Equipment of the Iranian Army

From 1925 to the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Iran was equipped with the very latest Western hardware. Cases exist where Iran was supplied with equipment even before it was made standard in the countries that developed it (for example the US F-14 Tomcat, or the British Chieftain Tank). Primary suppliers included the United States, Britain, France, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), Italy, Israel, and the Soviet Union.

The Iran–Iraq War, and post revolutionary sanctions at the time had a dramatic effect on Iran's inventory of western equipment. Under the pressures of war all supplies were quickly exhausted and replacements became increasingly difficult to come by. The war eventually forced Iran to turn towards the Soviet Union, North Korea, Brazil, and China to meet its short term military requirements. Initial developments in every field of military technology were carried out with the technical support of Russia, China, and North Korea to lay the foundations for future industries.

Iranian reliance on these countries has rapidly decreased over the last decade in most sectors where Iran sought to gain total independence; however, in some sectors such as the Aerospace sector and missile technology Iran is still greatly reliant on external help. Iran has developed the capacity to reverse engineer existing foreign hardware, adapt it to its own requirements and then manufacture the finished product. Examples of this are the Boragh and the IAMI Azarakhsh. In an attempt to make its military industries more sustainable Iran has also sought to export its military products.

This page includes weapons used by both Iranian army and Revolutionary Guards ground forces.

Small arms
Small arms Reference 1: Small arms Reference 2: Small arms Reference 3: Small arms Reference 4:

Infantry anti-tank weapons/unguided
AT Rockets Reference 1: AT Rockets Reference 2: AT Rockets Reference 3: AT Rockets Reference 4:

Anti-tank guided missile
ATGM Reference 1: ATGM Reference 2: ATGM Reference 3:

Mortar
Mortars Reference 1: Mortars Reference 2:

Towed artillery
Artillery Reference 1:

Self-propelled artillery
SPA Reference:

Surface-to-surface missiles
This refers to ballistic missiles and not battlefield systems. Iran's missile forces are under the command of the Revolutionary Guards, under the army's authority. Additional information is available at Air Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution who operate Iran's long-range missiles. Iran was reported to have purchased 18 mobile 3,200-4,000 km Musudan missiles (the extended range version of Soviet R-27 Zyb) in 2005.

Anti ship missiles
Anti ship missiles Reference 1: Anti ship missiles Reference 2:

Battlefield missile systems
Battlefield missile systems Reference 1: Battlefield missile systems Reference 2:

Army aviation
The Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation (IRIAA) is the air arm of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. It is not known how much of this inventory is actually operational.



Other equipment

 * Gas masks
 * Bullet Proof Vests (used by specialized units and some army divisions, not yet standard issue)