Karrar (tank)
The Karrar (Persian كرار lit. Striker or "Attacker") is an Iranian main battle tank. The tank was announced in 2016. At the announcement, it was stated that it possessed an electro-optical fire control system, a laser rangefinder, ballistic computer and could fire at both stationary and mobile targets in day or night.
| Karrar | |
|---|---|
Karrar main battle tank of the IRGC-GF participating in the Great Prophet 17 military exercise | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | Iran |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2020 |
| Used by | Iran |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Bani Hashim Defense Industrial Complex |
| Produced | 2017–present |
| No. built | 150 ordered in 2017, another 650 ordered in 2018 which is to be finished by late 2020's. 800 total. |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 51 tons / 51,000 kg |
| Length | 6.8 m (hull) / 9.5 m / 9.78 m (total) |
| Width | 3.68 m / 3.5 m 3.7 m |
| Height | 2.5 m / 2.3 m |
| Crew | 3 (driver, commander and gunner) |
| Armor | Composite armor for the turret, with ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) armor for the hull (possibly Relikt ERA "copy" for turret) and wire cage armor |
Main armament | 125 mm 2A46M/M-2/M-5 smoothbore gun (of the Russian design 2A46M) with stabilizer |
Secondary armament | coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a remotely controlled 12.7mm machine gun (copy of the Soviet DShKM) / 14.5mm machine gun |
| Engine | diesel |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
Operational range | Possibly around 500-550 km (plus with 200-280 km more from fuel tank) |
| Maximum speed | ~70 km/h (43 mph) |
The Karrar was announced following failed negotiations to obtain a licence and the technology to produce Russian T-90MS tanks. It is based on the Soviet-made T-72, and attempts to incorporate elements of the T-90, American M1 Abrams, and British Challenger 2. However, it is believed to be inferior, and has been described as "little more than an upgraded T-72 with some additional indigenous components and aesthetic flourishes modeled after the T-90MS". Despite its visual similarity to the T-90, Iran has rejected any alleged Russian collaboration in the project.
It's being manufactured at the Bani Hashim Defense Industrial Complex.