Iran unveils indigenously-optimized Zolfaqar, Samsam tanks,

Iran unveils indigenously-optimized Zolfaqar, Samsam tanks.(TI).The Islamic Republic of Iran has unveiled the optimized versions of two indigenously-designed and -manufactured tanks, named Zolfaqar and Samsam, Press TV reported.
Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan said that Iran's newly unveiled optimized home-made tank has higher capabilities compared with Russian T-72 main battle tanks. "Today, Zolfaqar has outpaced T-72 tanks in some specifications after it was optimized in various aspects," Pourdastan said in a ceremony to unveil two optimized versions of home-made tanks. The tanks, which have been upgraded by military experts in the Iranian Army's Ground Forces, were unveiled on Monday as part of the Ten-Day Dawn celebrations commemorating the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran.
Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan as well as several other high-ranking military officials attended the unveiling ceremony of the tanks.
Earlier on January 15, Pourdastan said that the fire control system and the stabilizer of the new version of the Zolfaqar tank have been upgraded, adding that the tank will be mass-produced after receiving the approval of the office of the chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces.The tank has a distinctive box-shaped, steel-welded turret of local design. Zolfaqar combat weight is reported to be 36 tons and has a 780 hp diesel engine; the tank has a 21.7 hp per ton ratio. The automatic loader is believed to be the same one from the T-72 tank.
Iran's Zolfaqar tank has a distinctive steel-welded turret and is operated by a crew of three.
The tank is armed with a 125mm smoothbore 2A46 gun, which is fitted with a fume extractor. Its secondary armament consists of a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7mm machine gun.
In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.Read the full story here.

No, this can't be true?An Iranian tank with a radiator grill in front?

Iranian Army to Unveil Optimized Home-Made Tanks Tomorrow.

Iranian Army to Unveil Optimized Home-Made Tanks Tomorrow.(Fars).The Iranian army plans to unveil optimized versions of home-made tanks in a special ceremony due to be held tomorrow.The army will display an optimized version of Zolfaqar and Samsam tanks on the occasion of the Ten-Day Dawn ceremonies, celebrating the victory of the Islamic Revolution back in 1979.
Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan and a number of other high-ranking military officials will attend the ceremony.
In January, Pourdastan had announced that the tank's fire control system and stabilizer have been optimized.
He said at the time that the new version of Zolfaqar has gone under comparison with one of the most advanced battle tanks manufactured by the Eastern powers and has shown increasingly higher capabilities.
Iran will start mass-production of the tank after the approval of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, the Army Ground Force Commander said.
Yesterday, Iran unveiled a new home-made fighter jet, named Qaher 313.
The advanced Iranian aircraft was unveiled in a special ceremony attended by President Ahmadinejad.
Iran has also taken wide strides in designing and manufacturing different types of light, semi-heavy and heavy weapons, military tools and equipment. Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes.
Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country. Read the full story here.