Big Showing During Khamenei's Visit to Defense Exhibition

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Khamenei,  paid a four-hour long visit to an exhibition featuring products of defence industry of Iran. While the news agencies predictably focused on the Supreme Leader in their photo galleries of the event, the real treasure trove of information was to be found in the background of many of these pictures.

Story: IRNA
Complete Photo Gallery: Leader.ir

Let's see what's on display!

(Leader.ir)

Here we have an Akhgar multi-barrel machine-gun set up on a tripod derived from the TOW ATGM. Iran apparently uses this tripod for a number of systems besides the ATGM because it has also been seen with a surveillance system (IRLRSP). It's unusual to see a rotary barrel gun like the Akhgar mounted as a static weapon in this manner but it's likely just a display model.

(Leader.ir)

This truck is built by the Self-Sufficiency Jihad Group. Unfortunately this model can not be discerned though it most likely belongs to the <5 ton class. It bears somewhat of a similarity to the 1 1/4 ton class truck.

(Leader.ir)

The Shahed 285 was also on display. While the photographer was obviously focused on Khamenei, he managed to catch a reflection off the right hand side of the canopy which shows the weapons pylon and what appears to be a SUU-11/A gunpod which houses the 7.62 mm GAU-2/M134. Both the IIAA/IIN as well as the IRIAA/IRIN used these gunpods but post-revolution there has been a lack of evidence indicating their continued use. This reappearance on the Shahed 285 may coincide with the production of the Akhgar, but it may also be coincidence.

(Leader.ir)

This is a rather interesting MLRS. The barrels are most likely of the 122 mm variety and appear to be somewhat skewed or improperly aligned. The rear of the bank also appear to be shrouded in a metal case. Given the general color and styling of the components, this may be the rear end of the truck mentioned above. Alternately, it may also be the truck behind the MLRS in the photo, or it may be neither. (See comments below for additional speculation)



 One of the bigger surprises of the show came with this shot. Here again it appears that the photographer focused on the attending personnel and only caught the front left corner of this previously unknown armoured vehicle.

(Leader.ir)

While we can tell very little from this picture, it does show the 125 mm 2A46M main gun that Iran produces under the name HM-50 which is used in both the T-72S as well as the Zulfiqar-3. The track links and track pads are also the same ones used on the Zulfiqar, although these are derived from the M-60A1.

But the most interesting feature of this AFV is definitely the unique shape of the front portion of the hull. While most tanks have a "sideways-V" shaped glacis, this tank has an almost entirely flat upper glacis. There is also what appears to be a bolt-on piece of applique steel on top of the hull with a rather odd texture.

At this stage, one can only guess at what the exact nature armoured vehicle could be.

Also note in the far background, is the F-14A display which gives an alternate view of the C-802K and the other white and black pod.

(Leader.ir)

Here we see an interior shot of the Samandar tactical vehicle and the Ranger tactical vehicle in the background.

(Leader.ir)

This is a TOW ATGM training aide. The controls are connected to a projector which displays the digitally rendered scenario on a wall.

(Leader.ir)

Here are two different types of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV). It is unclear if the first one is a scale model or not but it appears to be somewhat bio-mimetic, meaning it is designed to function like an animal rather then a machine. While it uses a propeller for propulsion, the stabilizing surfaces are definitely designed to work like a shark's.

(Leader.ir)

Another design is more bio-mimetic, using an articulated tail-fin to swim like a fish. The poster behind it identifies it as a "Micro-underwater vehicle (MUV)" Another poster most likely displays the specifications and other information, but the only passage that can be read indicates that the development took 13 months.

(Leader.ir)

A number or air defence radars were also shown. This one shows a trailer-mounted VHF surveillance radar similar to the P-18 "Spoon Rest". Unlike the P-18 which has 18 antenna in two banks of 8, this radar has 12 antenna in banks of 6 (see comments below)and the antenna themselves have a slightly different design then the original P-18. It is built into a shipping container and is mounted on a telescoping mast that can be stowed on the roof of the container.

(Leader.ir)

The "Kashf-2" is also mounted in a shipping container. It closely resembles the "ASR-1 in most ways save for the parabolic dish.

(Leader.ir)

But by far the most eye-catching of the radars shown was undoubtedly this one, pictured on the back of a trailer in the background of this photo. It has been suggested elsewhere that this is the radar mentioned in this announcement by General Vahidi. The logic behind it is that the article mentioned that this new radar will have "6400 elements" and as one can tell, this antenna is indeed made up of about 6400 square elements (by my count, each half has about 3100 squares, but it's easily conceivable that I'm off by 200 or so).

(Leader.ir)

Another big treat during the show was the RPG-29. While this is still the first time the RPG-29 launcher has been publicly seen in Iran, we have recently learned that Iran has produced the rounds for the anti-tank weapon.

(IRIB)

An F-14A was on display with a number of munitions that proved quite suprising. The inclusion of an AIM-54 (far-left) lends credence to the assertion that Iran is domestically producing the long-range missile for their interceptors - a debate that's raged for 30 years. To the right of the AIM-54 is the AN/ALQ-101 ECM pod used since they were first delivered alongside F-4s during the days of the IIAF. Further to the right is the C-802K AShM which up until now had only been associated with the Su-24 and F-4. On the far right is a missile which cannot be identified but appears to be slightly smaller in diameter then the C-802K. It's body has a blue colour and it's fins appear to be highly asymmetrical.

One very odd feature of this display is that it's still painted in it's original desert pattern camouflage that they were delivered in. This is unusual because all of the flying models were believed to have been repainted in the two-tone air superiority blue-grey that they're seen in nowadays.

(Leader.ir)

The "Sahareh" is reportedly an advanced torpedo under development. Not much can be discerned from the poster, but the noticeable lack of a propeller leads one to believe that it's rocket-propelled, possibly a development of the Hoot (which is a copy of the Russian Skhval).

(Leader.ir)

While a large calibre artillery rocket dominates this photo, there is a rather interesting design of rifle in front of Khamenei. It may be a large-calibre anti-material rifle which is missing it's barrel at the moment. Also of note is the scope adjacent to the rifle which bears many similarities to the Barrett BOR.