Iranian Grounds Force Tech Tree

[Thug Shaker Actual]

@AspandaIV

mainly added the F-16 and F/A-18 partially because the Imperial Iranian Air Force did evaluate them however unlike Japan with the F-16, the Iranians did place an order of them so it way more grounded in reality than the F-16AJ. The order for both the F-16 & F/A-18’s were blocked for very obvious reasons. The other reason why i added the F-16 & F/A-18 is that Iran does not have a lot of option to choose from

Which is exactly why maybe they shouldnt be added, or Iran just gets shafted for air and isnt the best air Tree to add. Its just forcing a circle through a quare hole, and further creating an alternate history/fake reality to force a tech tree to work. And one that isnt as unique as say the entire Russian fed or US tree or German Tree.

As with the Japanese F16AJ, imo its in the same grounded reality as the the F16IAI. But an important factor it seems people dont want to admit here, is that Japan is one of the very first tech trees, and is already in the game. People keep using Japan as an excuse when they make only semi-interesting new TT proposals, to why they should pad their tree with extremely off key additions, that never wouldve happened ever. Like iran using F18s and F16s is insanity to consider.

Japan is two things too

1. An ally of the US

2. A tree that gets exceptions. Just like the R2Y2 and Ho-Ri. The F16AJ is there to fill a void because japan made a huge jump in tech and their next gen fighters would dominate. Whos to say the F16aj wont get removed some day like the R2Y2 will also, both are temporary for now

[NotKringe]

On the topic of whether Iran would need something to fill the high-tier gap, I think it should be worth mentioning that Iran did try and upgrade their F-14 fleets on its own since the war with Iraq, with the earliest attempting being a conversion of the MIM-23 Hawk into an AAM called the Sedjil to fulfil the shortage. The missile would be used along since the AIM-54 Phoenix Iran has in the stockpile.

These images show the Sedjil missile (red fins) on the Iranian F-14. Note how it was mounted alongside the AIM-54 and other smaller AAMs.


Here is the Iranian modified F-4E with what appears to be either the Sedjil or the AIM-54 missile.

Comparison between the AIM-54A (above) and Sedjil (below).

In addition, Iran has also procured and developed various AAM on its own and modified their aircraft to be compatible with these weapons. Most notably modified the F-4E with Chinese-based avionics to allow it to launch the PL-7 missile, producing their own version of the AIM-9 called the Fatah (or Fatter), and reverse-engineered F-5 into the Azarakhsh, Saeqeh, and Kowsar to accept more advanced missile and avionics.

So, at least in my opinion, while Iran would be somewhat lacking in terms of different aircraft model, they can still offers a unique variant with assortment of missiles to “catch up” with more modern generation fighters that will eventually be introduced in the future.

Below are some images of assortments of missiles and other weaponry that I found. I can’t identify all of them so feel free to take a look.

[Thug Shaker Actual]

See thats what im talkin’ about! Thats awesome! Id love to use the ‘funny’ Iranian modified missiles. Very cool information

[Raiden_Black]

Iranian T-72F
The cheaper alternative to the Karrar MBT. All Iranian T-72 is to be upgraded to this standard.
Upgrades incorporates a new welded turret and more ERA coverage.
Lacks muzzle reference system, RWS & soft-kill APS of Karrar.

[NotKringe]

Interesting.

So, I guess this is basically an upgrade kit for existing T-72 models rather than a fully rebuilt tank like the Karrar?

[Raiden_Black]

well, its also sporting the welded turret … so these have also undergone the rebuilt treatment to some degree … its just that, the upgrade components are less.
Something like T-72B2 Rogatka (expensive, not accepted) vs T-72B3 (cheaper, accepted into service)
…
As far I can gather, Karrar is to be in service with IRGC/Sepah and T-72F with the NEZAJA/Artesh

[NotKringe]

Hmmm… So it’s basically a “standardized” design to ease help mass producing it easier, which I think is a thing for many armed forces around the world.

By the way, based on some info that I’ve gathered here and elsewhere, the Karrar with full APS for the IRGC were to be designated “Qalavizan” to distinct it from the standard variant of the Karrar used by Artesh.

Also, this is the image of the Artesh’s Karrar (i.e. the “standard” Karrar), in which the only thing it lacked from the Qalavizan is the lack of an APS system.

Based on images of the T-72F above, I can pointing out some differences between it and the “standard” Karrar, namely:

• The removal of a third FCS and remote-controlled MG turret.
• Replacing side skirt from using composite materials/ERA with steel plates.
• Removing some ERA around the gun mantlet.

I’m not quite sure, however, that if the T-72F would have the same 1,200 HP engine as the Karrar, or it would kept the engine of a standard Iranian T-72.

Based on these differences, I could place it between the T-72 Rakhsh and the prototype Karrar, as it has better FCS than the former while having worse protection than the latter.

[Raiden_Black]

The absence of ERA blocks near T-72F’s gun mantlet is temporary and is done to enable the driver to pop his head out more easily during training. Those ERA blocks can be attached back when needed or during deployment.

[NotKringe]

I see. So that makes it having roughly the same (or probably slightly worse) protection than the standard Karrar.

Though having one less FCS, weaker side, and possibly worse mobility would made the difference.

Currently, I’m rearrange the tech tree a bit for the rank 8 inclusion, so I would definitely going to include this into the tree. Though I would like to inform you that I’m going to remove the “T-72M APS” from the tree entirely, as it turns out to be just an image of the Qalavizan during the APS test. The absence of the ERA around the mantlet is simply to give the APS a clearer view.

The image of the “modified T-72” in question. The Karrar/Qalavizan’s distinctive sideskirt with ERA can be seen here.

[Raiden_Black]

Karrar assembly

[aDSD]

Just a very interesting image of it.

[REZABATTLE_IRAN]

T72 F thats it

[aDSD]

https://www.reddit.com/r/TankPorn/s/xaCQYfiksu

[great_rifler]

but there is a worthy point that we have to consider that too, that this specific photo, is the “AJA” upgraded version of the t-72 tanks(AJA have both t-72s and t-72m(These tanks are also the backbone of the IRGC’s ground forces)) to their new standard(the new standard of نزاجا(the ground force of the Irans Artesh)) called “QALAVIZAN”(Qalavizan is the name of highlands located in Iran’s Ilam province along the border with Iraq)(this upgrade is also called t-72 F(it’s its commercial name(for export & …)).

[Raiden_Black]

mate, you want Iraqi subtree in Iranian tech tree?

M1A1 Abrams, T-90S, Asad Bābil, BMP-3, BTR-4, BTR-94, AMX-GCT, 2S3 … ?

that’d be too OP

[NotKringe]

In my opinion, I don’t think Iran would need an Iraqi sub-tree (as in “any vehicles ever used by Iraq regardless of origin”, like how the Hungarian sub-tree were added). Given that Iraq has a complicated history with Iran, especially with the war with the Ba’athist Iraq during 80s and the whole diplomatic jumble between them, Iran, and the US after the war that I wouldn’t dare to get myself into. Plus I think Iran already has its own “take” on western-based equipment like the Zulfiqar tanks and various Toophan-armed vehicles, so adding stuff like Abrams would be quite redundant.

I would, however, agreed that any Iranian vehicles that Iran produced and supplied to the PMF and other branch of modern Iraqi military could be added, as you can see with the early T-72 Rakhsh version.

[NotKringe]

Here is the tech tree update after rank 8 addition. I’ve sorted many of these vehicle’s ranks using in-game tree as a references. This includes some BR changes based on other related vehicle’s performance (like how the Rakhsh with ZU-23 got its BR bumped due to the BTR-ZD also got a bump), as well as a few new vehicles.

Note that I took a bit of liberty to increase the BR ceiling to 12.3 myself to match to that of the current top tier air BR, since I find a bit odd that Gaijin decided to kept ground BR ceiling at 11.7 despite adding more advanced vehicles at that BR.

First off, I’ve decided to add the M151A2 TOW into the tree, foldered with the Safir (Toophan). This is partly due to I found an image of these vehicle in service with Shahist Iran and to make transition to rank 6 a bit smoother. The M151A2 would use the same TOW/I-TOW missile as other basic TOW carriers compared to the Safir that would get more advanced Toophan variants.

Spoiler

Second, I’ve bumped up the BR of the Soheil to 9.7, as I found that the MANPADs that were equipped onto it is the Misagh MANPADs (though the exact model of the launchers is unknown). These MANPADs has a maximum range of 5 km, which would match with many Stinger-equipped vehicles.

The Majid also got its BR bumped up as well, as the missile it is using has 14 kg of warhead, and that the vehicle has a salvo fire/fire-and-forgot capability.

Also, I’ve added an early version of the Herz 9 system with two missiles instead of four, and with shorter range.

Spoiler

Finally, I’ve added two new vehicles into the tree.

The first is what I considered a “meme vehicle” for how weird it is, and that I’m not sure if it would work until the BTR-ZD prove me wrong. That vehicle in question is the Heidah 7.

As you can see, the vehicle is really strange. Being a modernized BTR-60 with tons of ERA on it.

More details about the vehicle:

The Heidah 7 is basically a further development of the BTR-60 modernization program of Iran, which saw the vehicle typically being armed with an open ZU-23 turret. Though in the Heidah 7’s case, it forgoes ad-hoc modification in favor of a delicated turret with a single ZU-23 autocannon and fire control improvement instead.

The rather questionable choice of mounting ERA on a light vehicle is to protect it from various chemical projectiles, such as RPGs and ATGMs. To which the vehicle is expected to face, since it was designed as a scout and recon vehicle with convoy raiding capability.

Another one is a contender for top tier AA for Iran (should the BR ceiling increases), that being the Zubin air defense system.

Spoiler

Currently, little details is known about the Zubin system, as it is currently still under development.

What we did know about the system is that it was first revealed in December 2022, it was based on the Mercedes-Benz 2631 truck chassis, and that it uses vertical-launch SAM with a range between 15 - 25 km as its main armament.

The system appears to be infrared-guided missile system with built-in radar.

As a sidenote, I’ve found this random image of an Iranian M47M with what appears to be ERA bricks and some fire control module. I’m not quite sure about adding it as a separate vehicle yet, since there’s literally only one image of this specific configuration I could find. Though I think it might work as a modification for the M47M.

[EddieVanHalo]

I voted yes but start it at rank V. Might be a good place to pin other subtrees such as Iraq or Syria maybe Turkey. Could be a good gateway into the game for many interesting vehicles .

[REZABATTLE_IRAN]

Exactly

[PERSIAN_GENERAL]

YES
nn