Iran’s Ground Force Displays 5 New Military Equipment, Weapons

(FNA)- The Iranian Ground Force on Wednesday unveiled five new home-made state-of-the-art weapons and military equipment, including a robot which can carry loads and launch missiles at hostile targets.

The five new achievements went on display in a ceremony participated by Iranian Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan in Tehran today.

The new equipment includes Aqareb wheeled tank which is equipped with a 90-mm cannon and the latest generation of fire-control systems with an independent suspension system; an armed 4*4 robot which is capable of carrying two missiles and 600kg of load and conducting reconnaissance and combat missions with the operational range of 2km; and an ultra-light track vehicle which can travel at a maximum speed of 100km in bumpy roads and 130km in graveled roads with operational range of 400km.

Also the new weapons include a 23mm sniper rifle and anti-helicopter weapon with the capability to penetrate into bulletproof surfaces which weighs 62kg and has a range of 4km. The 14.5-mm caliber Shaher sniper rifle with a cylinder magazine was another weapon which went on display today. Shaher weighs 24kg and has a range of 3km.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.

Last month, Pourdastan had informed of the country's plans to unveil new state-of-the-art weapons on the Army Day.

"Today, threats have changed their face and we are experiencing proxy and partners wars in the region; therefore, we have tried to create the necessary capacities proportionate to these threats," Pourdastan said in mid March.

"In area of hardware, we have built new weapons appropriate for these type of threats, and these weapons will go on display on April 18," he added.

Also, in area of software, Iranian experts have studied new tactics in addition to the classic ones which were used during the Iraqi-imposed war (1980-1988), and our combat units have tried these new tactics, he added.

Earlier in March, Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli announced Iran's plans to unveil a new home-made missile defense system, named 'Talash (Endeavor) 3', in mid April.

"Talash 3 defense system will be unveiled on April 18 on the occasion of the Army Day (in Iran)," Esmayeeli said.

Noting that the defense system has been fully manufactured by Iranian experts, he said, "The capability and might of the Armed Forces, specially Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base, will be displayed to the enemies again and we will once again see tumult among the ill-wishers."

Esmayeeli stressed that Iran had the safest airspace in the Middle-East, and added that 3,600 spots were under the control and monitoring of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base in the country, while the number would soon increase to 5,000 spots.

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^{_{armed 4*4 robot which is capable of carrying two missiles}}

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