Makran IFV

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BTR-50PK Makran
TypeInfantry fighting vehicle
Place of originIran
Service history
In service2020-Present
Used byIran
Production history
Manufacturer
Produced2020-Present
Specifications
Length7.12 meters
Width3.17 meters
Height2.39 meters
Crew3
Passengers9-12
Main
armament
30mm Shipunov 2A42 auto-cannon
Secondary
armament
7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun
Maximum speed Estimated between 44 and 80 km/h (Land)
11km/h (Water)

The Makran IFV is a highly modernized and upsized copy of the BTR-50. The vehicle is produced and designed by the . It was unveiled in June 2020 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[1] The vehicle is named after the Makran coastal region, a region that stretches between Iran and Pakistan. While the Makran is technically an Infantry Fighting Vehicle, it has a large troop compartment as it is based on the BTR-50, allowing it to dual function as an armoured personnel carrier.

History[]

Origins[]

During the period of the Shah, Iran purchased and received around 300 BTR-50's, and during the Iran-Iraq war hundreds were captured. While only 150-270 are estimated to be in service, hundreds are currently in storage, and a couple were given to the Popular Mobilization Forces.[2][3] The IRGC realized after the Iran-Iraq war, that the BTR-50s and BTR-60's it had needed more armour and firepower, leading to the development of the Makran, Heidar-6, and Heidar-7.[2] The Sedad, a BTR-60PB with an unmanned ZU-23-2 was developed as a temporary solution.[4] Iran decided to purchase 1,500 BMP-2 Infantry fighting vehicles, however pressure from the US caused delivery of parts needed for licensed production to cease in 1999.[2] Iran is believed to have later restarted production of the BMP-2, but this information remains unconfirmed, other than some undated images. In 2016, Iran transferred BTR-50s to the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq to help fight ISIS. The vehicles performed wonderfully, which may have contributed to the development of the Makran a few years later.[2]

Development[]

A tour of an IRGC run upgrade facility, by Tasnim News Agency shows some of the captured BTR-50s and MT-LBs currently in storage, with Raad unmanned turrets being produced in the factory. Videos posted on YouTube show an unpainted prototype moving through water, but the date of these videos appears to be unknown.[5][6] Another prototype or in-completed Makran was seen in the same Tasnim News Agency video tour, which only had the unmanned turret and side armor upgrades, it was painted in grey and tan, with some unpainted parts.[7] In June 2020, the vehicle was displayed for the first time, alongside an upgraded T-72M dubbed "Rakhsh" and a heavily upgraded BTR-60 dubbed "Heidar-7".[8][9][10]

Design[]

Design and upgrades[]

The Makran has been so heavily upgraded that one may not be able to notice the BTR-50 hull. The IFV benefits from upgraded hull modifications, those being a newly welded frontal armor plate, thicker side armor, and thicker floor plating.[3][9] It also benefits from a new unmanned turret called "Raad",[11] armed with a Shipunov 2A42 30mm automatic cannon and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The "Raad" unmanned turret contains a brand new fire-control system, a thermal-imaging sensor, night-vision cameras, a laser range finder, 3-6 smoke canister launchers, and is controlled via a display panel in the tank.[1][3][11][9] The laser range finder has a range of 10,000 meters, and the thermal-imaging sensor has a range of 4,000 meters.[12] The vehicle stores 500 rounds of 30mm ammunition for the Shipunov 2A42 auto-cannon, and 2000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition for the coaxial machine gun.[3] The vehicle's driver also has a new cupola and periscope, to fit with the newly molded frontal armor.[3]

Missile capabilities[]

Images show 2 anti-tank guided missiles on display next to the Makran, this may imply that the Makran can carry anti-tank guided missiles. Some Iranian sources have also reported that the vehicles can fire "missiles".[11][10] Reports from GlobalSecurity and various Russian news agencies say it is possible to install ATGMs onto the vehicle, and is an option for purchasers.[2][3] The ATGMs may be the anti-tank guided missile, which is believed to have been developed from an Israeli Spike ATGM left behind in the 2006 Lebanon War.[13] Iranian sources report that the ATGMs displayed may be the Toophan instead, another Iranian SACLOS anti-tank guided missile.[14] However closer up photos clearly show a Sadid-1 anti-tank guided missile launcher identical to those on Iranian helicopters.

Misconceptions[]

Some have claimed, be that incorrectly, that the Makran's turret is that of a BMP-2.[10] However the two differentiate in size, looks, capability, structure, and adaptability. The reasoning behind an unmanned turret is to increase crew survivability and adaptability, not to increase ammunition storage.[15]

Operators[]

Current operators[]

 Iran

See also[]

• Tusan AFV  Iran

Vehicles of comparable role, performance and era[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Iran: IRGC unveils new armored personnel carriers and upgraded T-72M main battle tank | Defense News July 2020 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2020 | Archive News year". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  2. ^ a b c d e "БТР-50 "Makran", новые возможности старой машины". anna-news.info (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Fateh (Conqueror / Victor) "semi-heavy" submarine". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  4. ^ "Aqareb 8x8". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  5. ^ Iran Makran Armored personnel carrier ( BMP) ایران نفربر آبی و خاکی مکران, retrieved 2021-03-29
  6. ^ Iran's Makran IFV, retrieved 2021-03-29
  7. ^ جنگ افزار-۱ | جزئیات اورهال و ارتقای تانک و نفربر در ایران, retrieved 2021-04-02
  8. ^ Oryx. "The Oryx Handbook of Iranian Fighting Vehicles". Oryx Blog. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  9. ^ a b c Agency, Tasnim News (2020-06-27). "Iran: IRGC Unveils New Military Gear". Eurasia Review. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  10. ^ a b c "Iran displays BTR-50 modified with BMP-2 turret". Janes.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  11. ^ a b c "دستاورد جدید سپاه برای مقابله با دشمن را بشناسید + عکس". روزنامه دنیای اقتصاد (in Persian). Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  12. ^ "FarsNews Agency IRGC Ground Force Unveils Several Defensive Equipment". www.farsnews.ir. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  13. ^ "https://twitter.com/pataramesh/status/1347908599532691458". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-03-29. External link in |title= (help)
  14. ^ "برجک ساخت سپاه، آچار فرانسه زره پوش‌های نیروهای مسلح می‌شود/ گام به گام با تبدیل BTR-۵۰ روسی به "مکران" ایرانی+عکس". مشرق نیوز (in Persian). 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  15. ^ https://allin1iran.com/2020/08/233-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C-%D8%B2%D8%B1%D9%87%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D8%A8%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D8%A7%DA%A9%DB%8C-%D9%85%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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