Basic Information

Name

Zulfiqar-3 Iranian Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Designation

Zulfiqar-3

Alternate Designation

Zulfiqar-3

Equipment Type

Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Manufacturer

Shahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex

Date of Introduction

2012

Description

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.

Ground Specifications

Crew 3

Engine V-12 Diesel (1000 hp)

NBC Protection Yes

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.

System

Alternative Designation Zulfiqar-3

Manufacturer Shahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex

In Service 2012-Present

Type Main Battle Tank

Family Zulfiqar Class

Crew 3 (commander, gunner and driver) ea

Passenger Capacity INA

Dimensions

Length (Gun Forward) 9.4 m

Length (Hull) 7.2 m

Width 3.6 m

Height 2.5 m

Weight, Combat 41 tons

Ground Pressure INA kg/m

Automotive

Engine Name INA

Engine Type V-12 Diesel

Engine Power 1,000 hp

Power-to-Weight Ratio 21.7 hp/metric ton

Cruising Range 450 km

Speed, Maximum Road 70 km/h

Speed, Average Cross 40

Speed Maximum Swim Not Amphibious km/h

Gradient 60 deg

Side Slope 30 deg

Vertical Step 0.8 m

Trench 2.8 m

Fording Depth 1.4 m

Transmission SPAT 1200 automatic

Day/Night Driving Lights Yes, mounted on the glacis plate.

Communications

Primary Radio INA

Secondary Radio INA

Main Gun

Note The Zulfiqar-2 is armed with a fully-stabilized 125-mm smoothbore gun, fitted with an autoloader. This gun and associated automatic loader are understood to be from the Russian T-72 MBT.

System

Name 2A46M/2A46M-5

Type 125mm Smoothbore

Max Rate of Fire 8 rds/min

Manually Load Time 1-2 rds/min

Autoloader Yes, Carousel-Type Autoloader

Fire on the Move Yes, Main Gun

Traverse Range 360 deg

Traverse Left 180 deg

Traverse Right 180 deg

Maximum Elevation +14 deg

Minimum Elevation -6 deg

Fume Extractor Yes

Note The cannon can fire a wide range of ammunition including HE-FRAG (High Explosive - Fragmentation), APFSDS (Armor Piercing, Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot-Tracer) and HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank). The cannon is also able to fire AT-11 ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) named in Russia 9K119 Svir.

Ammunition (Option 1)

Name 3VBM3

Type Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS)

Caliber 125 mm

Muzzle Velocity 2,050 m/s

Basic Load 39 Total Rounds of any 125mm Projectiles

Effective Range 2,000-3,000 m

Armor Penetration 1,000 mm

Projectile Weight 11 kg

Variants 1.1 3VBM3/3BM9/10 1.2 3VBM6/3BM12/13 1.3 3VBM7/3BM15/16 1.4 3VBM8/3BM17/18 1.5 3VBM9/3BM22/23 1.6 3VBM10/3BM29/30 1.7 3VBM11/3BM26/27 1.8 3VBM13/3BM32/33 1.9 3VBM17/3BM42 (3BM44 "Mango") 1.10 3VBM19/3BM42M (3BM44M "Lekalo") 1.11 3VBM20/3BM46 (3BM48 "Svinets") 1.12 3VBM22/3BM59 (3BM59 "Svinets-1") 1.13 3VBM23/3BM60 (3BM60 "Svinets-2") 1.14 3VBM?/3BM69 "Vacuum-1" 1.15 3VBM?/3BM70 "Vacuum-2"

Ammunition (Option 2)

Name 3VOF22

Type High Explosives (HE)

Purpose High explosive fragmentation fin stabilised. General purpose rounds, for use against infantry, bunkers and light vehicles and other "soft" targets.

Caliber 125 mm

Muzzle Velocity 850 m/s

Basic Load 39 Total Rounds of any 125mm Projectiles

Max Dispersion 0.23 mrad

Maximum Range 5,000 m

Charge A-IX-2 (73% RDX, 23% aluminium powder, phlegmatized with 4% wax) 3.0 kg

Projectile Weight 23 kg

Round Weight 33 kg

Variants 3VOF22/3OF19, 3VOF36/3OF26, 3VOF128/3OF82

Ammunition (Option 3)

Name 3VBK27/3BK31 "Start"

Type High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)

Caliber 125 mm

Muzzle Velocity 915 m/s

Basic Load 39 Total Rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles

Max Dispersion INA

Maximum Range 3,000 m

Charge Type HEAT

Charge Weight 1.62 kg

Projectile Weight 18.4 kg

Armor Penetration Estimated at 800 mm triple charge HEAT

Variants 3VBK7/3BK12, 3VBK10/3BK14, 3BK12M, 3BK14M, 3VBK16/3BK18, 3BK18M, 3VBK17/3BK21, 3BK21B, 3VBK21/3BK25, 3VBK25/3BK29 "Breyk", 3VBK25M/3BK29M

Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)

Name 9M119 Svir, 9M119M Refleks(NATO designation AT-11 Sniper-B)

Type Laser Beam Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)

Caliber 125 mm

Manufacturer Degtyarev plant

In Service 1980's to present

Proliferation Widely Proliferated

Operational Range 4,000-5,000 m

Weight 17.2 kg

Diameter 125 mm

Basic Load 6 ea

Warhead Type Tandem hollow-charge

Warhead Weight 4.5 kg

Speed Subsonic

Guidance System 9S516 guidance system

Launch Platform 125 mm smoothbore guns

Armor Penetration 700mmm of homogeneous armour

Time to meet Maximum Range 17.6 seconds

Control Unit 9S517 automatic control unit

Voltage Regulator 9S831 voltage regulator.

Auxiliary Weapon System #1

Note The Zulfiqar-3 lacks a coaxial machine gun

System

Name Type 54 (DShKM)

Type 12.7 mm Type 54 Heavy Machine Gun

Proliferation +1 Million

Length, Total 1,625 mm

Barrel length 1,070 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 34 kg

Weight (On Wheeled Mounting) 157 kg

Rate of Fire 600 rds/min

Action Gas-Operated, Flapper Locking

Feed System 50 Round Belt

Sights Iron/Optical

Variants DK, DShKM, DSHKS, Type 54 HMG

Ammunition

Type Heavy machine gun and anti-materiel rifle cartridge

Caliber 12.7 mm

Cartridge 12.7x108 mm

Muzzle Velocity 850 m/s

Basic Load 1,200 ea

Maximum Effective Range 2,500 m

Armor Penetration API: 21 at 500 m & 13 at 1000 m (RHA)

Auxiliary Weapon System #2

Note The Rheinmetall MG 3, 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun is mounted on the front of the turret and is controlled remotely.

System

Name Rheinmetall MG 3

Type 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun

In Service 1960-Present

Manufacturer Rheinmetall

Proliferation +1 Million

Weight, Gun Only 25.35 kg

Weight, Gun Mounted on Tripod) 27.5 kg

Length, with the Stock 1,225 mm

Length, without the Stock 1,097 mm

Barrel Length 565 mm

Action Recoil-operated, roller locked

Rate of Fire 1,000-1,300 rds/min

Effective Firing Range (With Sight Adjustment) 200-1,200 m

Maximum Riring Range (Bipod) 600 m

Maximum Riring Range (Tripod Mounted) 1,200 m

Maximum Riring Range (Gun Carriage) 3,000 m

Maximum Riring Range (Terminal) 7,750 m

Feed System 50-round non-disintegrating DM1 belt (can be combined in a drum); 100-round disintegrating DM6/M13 belt

Sights Open tangent iron sights

Ammunition

Name INA

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO

Muzzle Velocity 820 m/s

Basic Load 2,000 ea

Fire Control

Name Upgraded Fire Control System compared to the Zulfiqar-1 and Zulfiqar-2. Name: INA

Computerized FCS Yes

Thermal Sight Tank Commander Yes

Thermal Sight Gunner Yes

Thermal Sight Driver Yes, passive periscope for night driving.

Main Gun Stabilization Yes

Domestic System Yes

Laser Rangefinder Yes

Fire on the Move Yes

Driver Periscopes three day periscopes for driving

Protection

Hull Armor Reinforced composite armor on the front arc.

Turret Armor Turret mounts a laser-warning pod and the steel is welded providing protection from small arms fire

Applique Armor Available

Explosive Reactive Armor Available

Active Protection System INA

Mine Clearing INA

Self-Entrenching Blade No

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment Yes, Six electrically operated smoke-grenade launchers are mounted on each side of the turret.

Note An armored skirt covers the wheels and the turret is reinforced

Image Sources

Notes https://armyrecognition.com/military-products/army/main-battle-tanks/main-battle-tanks/zulfiqar-3-iran-uk; https://21stcenturyasianarmsrace.com/2011/09/28/iran-marks-sacred-defence-anniversary-with-suitable-parade/;