Raad-2 (Thunder-2) Iranian 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH)

The 155mm Raad-2 (Thunder 2) is a domestically developed self-propelled howitzer system in Iranian army service. The system uses components from other domestic armored vehicle programs to simplify logistics and training. The Raad-2 resembles the U.S. M109A2 self-propelled howitzer in appearance. A large number of these vehicles were supplied to Iran prior to the revolution in 1979. It has a crew of five: commander, driver, gunner and two ammunition loaders. In early September 1997 it was reported that Iran had successfully tested a locally built rapid fire mobile field gun known as Raad-2 (Thunder-2). It uses a turret that has a similar layout to the M109A1 155mm/39-cal self-propelled howitzer. The Iranian Defense Industries Organization claimed that the 155 mm HM44 howitzer manufactured by the Hadid facility of the Iranian Defense Industries Organization had a high firing rate and accuracy. It was described as being able to fire five rounds per minute. The gun's range was reported as 30 km (19 mi), and it also includes features such as a laser range-finder and a semi-automatic loading system. The gun looks exactly like 155mm/39-cal M185 gun from M109A1 and is fitted with a double baffle muzzle brake, fume extractor, screw breech mechanism, hydro-pneumatic recuperator and a hydraulic recoil brake. It uses the Iranian-made Boragh APC chassis, a conversion of the either the Russian BMP-1 or Chinese Type 86 (WZ-501) IFV. It was described as being able to move with a speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) on the battlefield.