Zulfiqar is an Iranian main battle tank, conceived by Brigadier General
Mir-Younes Masoumzadeh, deputy ground force commander for research and
self-sufficiency of the armed forces. It is named after Zulfiqar, the legendary
sword of Ali, the fourth Caliph and the first Shiite Imam.
The test prototypes of the tank were evaluated in 1993. Six semi-industrial
prototypes of the tank were produced and tested in 1997.
Design specifications = Features=
The tank has a distinctive box-shaped, steel-welded turret of local design. The
Zulfiqar is believed to be developed from major components of the Soviet T-72
and American M48 and M60 tanks. The suspension is modelled on the M48 /M60
Patton tanks supplied to Iran by the U.S. The SPAT 1200 transmission also
seems to be a local development of that of the M-60. Zulfiqar-1's combat weight
has been reported to be 36 tonnes with a 780 hp diesel engine; giving the tank a
21.7 hp per ton ratio. Some sources see resemblances between the Zulfiqar design
and the Brazilian prototype Osório. The Zulfiqar is operated by a crew of
three personnel. The automatic loader is believed to be the same one from the
T-72 tank. = Armament=
The tank is armed with a 125 mm smoothbore gun 2A46 derived from that of
the T-72, which is fitted with a fume extractor. Its secondary armament
consists of a 7.62 mm coaxial and a 12.7 mm machine gun. For the Zulfiqar/T-72
fleet, the Ammunition Group of the Iranian Defense Industries Organization
mass-produces a standard high explosive 23 kilograms propellant charge which
fires the 3 kg warhead at a muzzle velocity of 850 metres per second.
The Zulfiqar-1 uses the Slovenian EFCS-3 fire control system, the same model used
on the Type 72Z, providing 'fire-on-the-move' technology. The
Zulfiqar allegedly mounts a laser-warning pod on the turret. Its
design enables the tank to use an Iranian-made package of reactive armor.
Production In April 1997 Acting Commander of the
Ground Forces of the Iranian Army, Lieutenant General Mohammad Reza
Ashtiani announced that the mass production of Zulfiqar tanks, which
began in 1996, was still in progress. He stated that the manufacture of 520
different kinds of tank parts, 600 artillery parts, repair of 500 tanks and
armored vehicles have been carried out. In late July 1997 Iranian President
Hashemi Rafsanjani formally inaugurated a production line for the domestically
manufactured Zulfiqar main battle tanks and Boragh tracked armoured personnel
carrier. The facility, the Shahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex, will also
produce the BMP-2 armored personnel carrier.
Variants = Zulfiqar-1=
The Zulfiqar-1 is based on the M60 Patton model acquired under the
pre-revolution era. The Zulfiqar-1 was first revealed in public in 1994. A
total of six prototypes were completed and field tested in 1997. The Zulfiqar-1
is protected by a welded steel hull and the turret is reinforced by a composite
armour. The Zulfiqar-1 is armed with a 125mm Smoothbore gun taken from a T-72.
= Zulfiqar-2= The Zulfiqar-2 is an interim main battle
tank prototype used as a test bed. This variant is fitted with a new and more
powerful engine. It has an extended chassis and possibly uses an improved
autoloader. = Zulfiqar-3=
The Zulfiqar-3 is the most advanced variant of the Zulfiqar family. It
features considerable upgrades to the fire control system, chassis, engine and
main gun. The new variant is equipped with the 2A46 125 mm smoothbore cannon
with an autoloader, a laser rangefinder and a new fire control system. It is
also fitted with a reinforced turret and the wheels are covered by an armoured
skirt. Gallery
See also Iranian military industry
Equipment of the Iranian Army Iran's missile forces
Notes References
Cordesman, Anthony H. & Kleiber, Martin. Iran's Military Forces and Warfighting
Capabilities: The Threat in the Northern Gulf. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN
0-313-34612-7 Zulfiqar Global Security
External links Zulfiqar or Zolfaqar 3 main battle tank
Description of the different versions ACIG.org: Photos of the Zulfiqar 3 at a
2003 parade in Tehran [2]: Photos of the Zulfiqar 3 at the
2011 Army Day parade