Iran's Sacred Defense Week 2010

[Pasban]

The Iranian Sacred Defense Week is an annual commemoration of the 1980-1988 Iraqi imposed on Iran.

As part of the commemoration, a parade is held by the armed forces. The parade is interesting in that Iranian units are showcased and as such the event allows an insight into the more recent developments within the Iranian military.

Parade units of the services

Reconnaissance/ Patrol unit. Such two-man teams are an important element in the Iranian battlefield strategy, which evolved during the imposed war. I see them as an evolution of the Iranian dirt-bike teams. There are such quad-equipped anti-tank and medical units as well.

 

[somebozo]

Is that their version of humvee?? looks to be very badly armoured?

 

[Pasban]

More Parade units. The last two are milita in ceremonial attire and representative of Iran's multi-ethnic self.

Vetrans

Sofreh Mahi ("Sting-Ray" ) - mock-up. Nothing more is known about this project.

Karar - UCAV.

T-72 with slat armor. It is meant to to protect against RPG strikes.

 

[Pasban]

Is that their version of humvee?? looks to be very badly armoured?

It isn't an Iranian version of the Humvee. How did you arrive at that conclusion? It's an evolution of similar purpose Iranian dirt-bike units as I stated before. It's a mobile open all-terrain vehicle for two people. It is used by field medics as well and to transport light equipment by means an attachable trailer. I will post pictures of more Humvee-comparable vehicles afterwards.

Also, about the armour, it isn't armoured.

Edit:

There is a wide variety of units who utilize this vehicle. Below is another addition.

 

[Pasban]

The Sacred Defense Week parade has had an established tradition of displaying new Iranian hardware and some rather mysterious systems as well. Take the two vehicles below for instance:

This vehicle hasn't been seen before. I believe it is a Boragh IFV mortar carrier variant given the movable rear hatch behind the commander's hatch.

The above is another vehicle which hasn't been seen before. At first glance it appears to be a smaller version of the M113. It rather corresponds well or almost identically with the Lynx armoured reconnaissance vehicle. Though based on the M113 it was made to be faster, more compact and to be better catered for reconnaissance. It was in active Canadian service with it's only other user being the Dutch. It isn't in service of both states and it has never been exported. I have no idea how we see one almost identical vehicle in an Iranian parade.

Here is a picture for comparison:

 

[Pasban]

Speaking of mysteries...

Sofreh Mahi mock-up close shots.

An unidentified mock-up. This was showcased earlier as well.

 

[Pasban]

Iran's family of aerial munitions and systems were also displayed.

Multifunction Electronic Warfare Pod

Zoobin PGM

Kite-2007 - munitions dispenser

Sattar-3 with laser designation pod

Qassed (modified GBU-78-A)

Qassed-3 (Iranian AGM-130 variant with booster)

Sattar-2

Sedjeel (Iranian variant of the Hawk modified for air-to-air use)

 

[Pasban]

More pictures...

Sanee - Iranian developed fuel pods for it's aircraft which do not already have aerial refeulling systems. The pod also allows for what is called buddy refueling.

Iranian anti-ship missiles - Kowsr, Nasr, and Noor

UAVs - Mohajer and Ababeel

Shahin UAV

Mohajer and Sahand UAVs

MQM-107

Ghazal unmanned helicopters - another set of newcomers. These are most probably for observation.

 

[Pasban]

Samandar Light Attack Vehicle

Asheda Nezaja - "Ranger" vehicle. It is armed with a Akhgar gatling gun developed by Iran. It is fed with 7.62mm ammunition, has 6 barrels a rate of fire of 5000 rounds/ minute

... without the Akhgar

 

[Irfan Baloch]

I will prefer court marshel rather than riding anyone of these
they are an insult to the dignity of a grown up Man.

I wont even force my in-Laws to ride one of these.

 

[Pasban]

Zolfaghar-3 MBT

A better image of the Slat armour mentioned earlier, mounted on a T-72.

Ra'ad-2 155mm (Iranian upgrade of M-109)

Ra'ad-1 122mm (Boragh APC modified with a 122mm howitzer)

Up-armoured M113 variant

... and one with an automated turret

Missile systems that were displayed...

Sejil-1

Shahab-3

 

[adnan1479]

great work guys. My personal favourite out of the entire lot is the gatling gun - - i would love to see it on our Al-Khalids, Talhas, Defenders and Mi-17s

 

[Pasban]

Gadr-1

Fateh-1 - guided artillery rocket

Sayad-1A - Iranian upgraded version of Russian S-75 (NATO SA-2 Guideline). According to Janes, "The Sayad-1 (A) static surface-to-air missile system is a further development of the basic Sayad-1, which in itself is a development of the Russian S-75 (NATO SA-2 Guideline) system. The basic Sayad-1 was also based heavily on the Chinese HQ-2 and may also have benefited from North Korean technology input. Other reports have suggested that the Sayad was also strongly influenced by the US produced HAWK and Standard missiles, those reports are largely from US sources."

Karar UCAV - arguably one of the clearest images yet.

Shahin - Iranian modification of the Hawk AAM series.

Nasr-1 AshM

Ra'ad AshM

 

[Pasban]

Sagheb-Tagheb - Iranian version of the French Crotales system.

While it does look somewhat like a Phalanx, it clearly isn't since as it lacks a gun and moreover is evidently bulkier. It is probably some command and control station or radar. Unfortunately, the side of the picture did not show the placard. The situation would become clearer once a better picture is available.

There were a lot more displays and some very intriguing objects. This will have to do it for now. Perhaps they can be posted later.

 

[Irfan Baloch]

great work guys. My personal favourite out of the entire lot is the gatling gun - - i would love to see it on our Al-Khalids, Talhas, Defenders and Mi-17s

mounted on gunships.. yes because they have a limited operation in terms of flight time. Specially raining hell from the air on enemy hiding in bushes or around walls in urban area.

but not on tanks or other vehicles because it is not practical to have a 3000 rounds a minute gun mounted on a vehicle that is going to remain in the area of conflict for many hours or day (imagine how much ammo you will need for that). The limited space and efficiency just goes against it. 12.7 mm does an ample job for lightly armoured vehicles, personnel and low flying aircrafts. Don’t discount that gun though it fire a whopping 900 to a 1000 rounds plus a minute. Hence you only see this gun and its close cousins on tanks and support vehicles