Artesh parades (with IRGC, Basij and NAJA participation) throughout Iran
by Mark Pyruz
Tabriz
Left: IRIA contingent, possibly Tabriz Commando Brigade
Right: unidentified IRIADF unit
Left: BTR-60 armored personnel carrier
Right: M113 armored personnel carriers
Shiraz
Left: Spectators atop a historic M4 Sherman medium tank
Right: IRIA BMP-2 type infantry fighting vehicle, possibly 84th Mechanized Division
Left: IRIA FV101 Scorpion armored reconnaissance vehicle, possibly 84th Mechanized Division
Right: DShK HMG gunner
Bushehr
Left: SUU-25 illumination pods
Right: AGM-65 Maverick training round
Left: IRINA AB-212ASW medium helicopter
Right: S-200 surface-to-air missile
Mashad
Left: NAJA special operations contingent equipped with MP5 SMGs
Right: tough looking paratroopers (possibly IRGC) equipped with G3-A4 battle rifles
Left: IRIA M557 armored personnel carrier command post vehicle
Right: BTR-60 armored personnel carriers
Left: IRIA ghillie camouflage suits
Right: unidentified IRIA unit on parade with ceremonial swords
Dezful
Left: Mercedes-Benz L-series transport towing Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon anti-aircraft gun
Right: Type 60 (D-20) 152 mm towed gun-howitzer and Type 59-1 130 mm towed field gun
Gonbad-e Qabus
Left: IRGC unit parading on Artesh military day, likely Neynava Corps
Right: IRGC BMP-1 IFVs followed by T-55 variant MBTs
Ahvaz
Left: unidentified Commando unit equipped with AK type assault rifles
Right: Safir tactical vehicles equipped with 107 mm rocket launchers
Torbat Heydariyeh
Left: young BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile operator
Right: unidentified IRIA unit
Aran va Bidgol, Isfahan
Left: unidentified IRIA colonel addressing parade crowd
Right: Mercedes-Benz L-series carrier with Zelzal heavy artillery rocket
Orumiyeh
Left: KrAZ-255 troop transport
Right: NAJA police cars, Renault Megane (assembled locally by Pars Khodro)
Zanjan
Left: KrAZ-6322 type (6x6) truck transport
Right: IRIA M557 armored personnel carrier command post vehicle
Karaj
Left: Type 59-1 130 mm towed field gun
Right: Safir tactical vehicles equipped with BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile systems
Kermanshah
Left: IRIAA pilot, first lieutenant
Right: IRIA M109A1 self-propelled howitzer and M60A1 medium tank
Birjand
Left: Sepehr 3/4 ton tactical vehicle towing Zu-23-2 AA gun
Right: Toyota Land Cruiser adapted 122 mm 8-tube rocket launcher
Mazandaran
Left: contingent unidentified IRIADF unit equipped with G3 battle rifles
Right: IRIA colonel and second lieutenant
Left: unidentified Basij Ashura battalion contingent
Right: NAJA riot control equipped contingent
Rasht
Left: unidentified IRGC officer contingent
Right: chemical defense decontamination vehicle
Ardebil
Left: IRIA RPG-7 type gunners, possibly 40th Independent Infantry Brigade
Right: military band conductor wearing MARPAT woodland-type BDUs
Maragh
Left: IRIA M1954 (M-46) 130 mm towed field gun
Right: NAJA police officer contingent
Sarab
Left: Student Basij and likely Artesh officer's child participating in parade
Right: unidentified IRIA unit contingent armed with G3-A3 battle rifles
Sanandaj
Left: Kurdish Basij equipped with AK type assault rifles
Right: Toyota vehicles belonging to a NAJA border protection unit
Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency
Note: IRNA photography may be shared by various locations
Only the strong will survive. Number '34' is definitely a proof.
ReplyDeleteAt a Saturday ceremony attended by Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan, Fadak walkie-talkie, Sahand-3 multiple rocket launcher and T-72 Tank simulator were put on display.
ReplyDeleteEarlier on Thursday, Iran unveiled a number of indigenous military equipment, including a stealth unmanned aerial vehicle, two missile systems and a mobile electronic interception system, on the occasion of the country’s Army Day.
Mark are you going to Iran to man one of these pieces of equipment? Or even just to blog from Iran? No? Just gonna sit comfortably in your American home blogging about Iran? I see.
ReplyDeleteIranian salesmen think people are so dumb.
Regarding the Bushehr section. The IRINA AB-212ASW is not a medium helicopter. It is a light helicopter and designed for maritime, naval roles.
ReplyDeleteActually, as an aviator I can tell you that Mark is mostly on the ball and is much better informed than most of the bloggers and has a solid understanding of aviation and weaponry. Even Bell and Augusta Bell (Italian assembly), and all rotary wing pilots would describe the 212/214 series as medium lift. The Bell 12/214 is a medium-lift helicopter derived from Bell UH-1 Helicopter's. The first 214A demonstration prototype followed and was evaluated in Iran during field trials in the late 70's and Colonel and later General Manoucher Khosrowdad achieved the world's record for ceiling endurance at Kermanshah trials. The heavily modified Iranian IRIAA (havanirooz)214 are similar in size and appearance to the Bell 205 and Bell 212 and can be confused by amateurs. IRIAA has armor plated its later variants and kevlar is heavily used to protect the pilot and vulnerable points. The glass is also bullet resistant. Iran also uses this medium chopper for VIP duties.
DeleteHere is the Bell description:
The Bell 212/214 is a medium-lift helicopter derived from Bell Helicopter's ubiquitous UH-1 Huey series. The Bell 214ST shares the same model number, but is a larger, much-modified twin-engine derivative..The Bell 212 Twin Huey (also known as the Twin Two-Twelve) is a two-bladed, twin-engined, medium helicopter that first flew in 1968. Originally manufactured by Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas, production was moved to Mirabel, Quebec, Canada in 1988, along with all Bell commercial helicopter. All branches of Iranian military have been prolific users of this type since its assembly at Isfahan (Bell/Isfahan) in 1976. Iran has successfully modified its variants for multiple roles and has over 200 of the type in service.
It is important not to confuse the Bell 212 and the Bell 214. They are different types. The Bell 214 was based on the Bell 212 but, is bigger and has more lifting capability. It is in the category of medium helicopters. The Bell 212 is not.
DeleteThe helicopter mentioned in this article is an AB 212ASW. It is a specialised, naval sub-variant of the AB 212 which itself is a Bell 212 built under licence by Agusta, in Italy (as was the AB 212ASW). This is not the same thing as a Bell 214.
One day these very men will turn their guns onto the regime.
ReplyDeleteHighly improbable. Artesh is representative of the Iranian people and the Sepah is the guardian of the GREAT REVOLUTION. This type of nonsense is better suited to Debka or chai-khaneh.
DeleteYes Artesh is representative of the Iranian people and the Iranian people don't want this hypocritical tyrannical anti Iranian regime anymore.The Sepah and Sandist Khors like you wont be able to stand up against the Artesh and the will of the Iranian people.
DeleteSilly boy! Artesh and Sepah are totally integrated and their officers rotate stints in both services and they train at the same academy. How out of touch are you anti-Iran ranting clowns with Iranian facts.
DeleteThe regime can "rotate" the officers as much as they like because it wont make a damn difference.End of the day when the Iranian people decide to overthrow this corrupt and barbarous anti Iranian regime the Artesh will have to side with them.You need to collect your free Sandist kid.
DeleteWRONG AGAIN sonny, the Artesh is the Iranian people as the vast silent majority support the Islamic Republic. Just hide in your US hovel and see the 90% turnout at the next elections while you have to live in the hateful racist Islamophobic US police state.
DeleteDream on sonny boy. If the "vast silent majority support the Islamic republic" then why is it in every street corner of Iran's cities the decrepit and barbarous Islamic dictatorship has placed their armed goons in case there is trouble brewing against the regime?
DeleteThe first production Model 214A (c/n 27004) was taken in charge by the Iran Army Aviation or Havanirooz on 26 April, 1975. Three days later, on 29 April, this aircraft with Maj-Gen Manouchehr Khosrowdad, commander of the IAA, and Clem A Bailey, Bell's assistant chief production test pilot, at the controls, established five new world records in the FAI Class E-1e. Major General Khosrowdad also pioneered the use of attack helicopters in the region and is regarded as the father of Iranian military rotary wing aviation. The helicopter reached a maximum altitude of 9070m and sustained a horizontal altitude of 9010m for 30 seconds. It also climbed to 3000m in 1min 58sec; to 6000m in 5min 13.2sec and to 9000m in 15min 05sec.
ReplyDeleteToday, Model 214s are still operated by the Iran Islamic Revolutionary Air Force in large numbers with various domestic features, Iran has been successful in either obtaining or producing almost all stocks of spares, and quality of Iranian maintenance standards is also regarded as very high. These medium lift helicopters were the backbone of Iranian rapid deployment, ambulance service and even gunships during the grueling Iran-Iraq war. Iranian military aviators developed a special bond with the Bell 214A and the aircraft is still widely deployed throughout Iran's air arms. This resulted in an order for 287 aircraft, announced by Bell on 22 December 1972 and continued assembly at Isfahan will December 1978 and in the post-revolutionary creation of Iran Aviation Industries and production of modified models including:
214C: Search and rescue variant of 214A. Total of 39 delivered to Iran and further models in kit form obtained from Canada. Currently used by Iranian navy.
214ST: Stretched twin-engined military version originally developed for production and service in Iran; some converted to VIP transport
POWER PLANT: One 2,183kW Lycoming T5508D turboshaft engine. Standard fuel capacity 772 litres; maximum with auxiliary tank is 1,434 litres.
ACCOMMODATION: One or two pilots and 14 to 15 passengers or a squad of fully armed troops.
On April 29, 1975, at the largest Iranian helicopter base at Kermanshah, four Rotorcraft World Records were set by an Iranian officer that some 38 years later have yet to be broken. The records were set by the Brigadier General Manuchehr Khosrowdad, the Commander of the Iranian Army Aviation (Havanirooz).
The Aviation and Space World Records are compiled by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI); the records were for the Rotorcraft, Sub-Class E-1e (Helicopters: take off weight 3000 to 4500 kg.), Group 2: Turbine, in General category; Gen. Khosrowdad was flying a military version of the Bell 214A helicopter and set the following records:
1- Altitude reached without payload: 9071 meters;
2- Time to climb to the altitude of 3000 meter: 1 min 58 seconds;
3- Time to climb to the altitude of 6000 meter: 5 min 14 seconds;
4- Time to climb to the altitude of 9000 meter: 15 min 5 seconds.
The Iranian record remains unchallenged to this day and Havanirooz legacy in pioneering rotary aviation carries on.
Thanks for the world record info.
DeleteDidn't the mullahs execute him and showed his bloody body all over the nations newspapers as a traitor? Yes they did. I was 10 and I remember every them.
THANKS Mark for the effort!. let the world see more through your blessed pen!
ReplyDeleteCan't they just pick a single freaking uniform, for Christ's sake? It's like the metrosexual armed forces or something.
ReplyDeleteBit like Persian carpet :o)
Deletewhy would the paratroopers be IRGC? Am I missing a patch or something?
ReplyDeleteThe Sepah does indeed has a paratroop and special operations brigade. Infact, the IRGC or Sepah has a land, air and sea arm.
DeleteIRGC major air assets include 13 Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft (including seven flown from Iraq to Iran during the 1991 Gulf War), and around forty armed COIN-EMB-312 Tucanos. IRGCAF also maintains thirty Y-12 and Dassault Falcon 20 light transports, 20 MIL-17sh helicopters, as well as 45 MFI-17 Mushshak and Super Mushshak trainers and locally built Ababil and Mohajer reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles. The IRGC also has over 40 ex-Iraqi SU-20/22 and MIG 27 in storage that can be activated in an emergency.
The Pasdaran also operate a sizable rotary-wing force consisting of around twenty Mi-171 helicopters for transport and armed assault roles, and a large transport force out of Shiraz, equipped with around fifteen ex-Iraqi Il-76s (originally operated by the IRIAF) and twelve An-74TK-200 transports. Recently, the IRGCAF has taken delivery of over 20 Toofan (Iranian made Supercobra AH-1Z) helicopters armed with TOW and Iranian made laser guided missiles. The armament of the super-secretive Al-Qods force remains a mystery.
Anonymous April 23, 2013 at 1:24 AM, Iran does not have AH-1Z Super Cobras. Toofan helicopters are Iranian produced and upgraded sub-variants of the AH-1J SeaCobra, which Iran imported before 1979.
DeleteThe Tucanos and MFI-17 Mushshaks are primarily training aircraft that also have a secondary, strike capability.
The Mi-17s are primarily transport aircraft that can be fitted with external pylons to carry optional, strike armaments.
but isn't this ARMY day? why have an IRGC unit parade... and how were they told apart...
DeleteIt seems that the word army, has been misused when what is really meant is MILITARY DAY.
DeleteAccording to the June 2010 issue of Air Forces Monthly, a total of 12 MiG-23s fled to Iran in 1991, including the following:
Delete- 7 MiG-23ML
- 4 MiG-23BN
- 1 MiG-23UM
For all you kids who watched too much Press TV Read and enjoy this from your best friends the Russians:
ReplyDeletehttp://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/11-02-2011/116868-iran-0/
Thanks! It basically confirmed what I believed in the first place.
DeleteYou are welcome. This is a well known fact, that all the military experts in the west are aware of. It is good for the Mullahs and the "bache basijis" to be kept in the wrong belief by the Americans that they posses very sophisticated weapons, the same way they screwed Saddam when they were saying that he has the 4:th largest Army in the world. It is actually good for the manipulation of the public opinion of the western population if the west decides to take on the Iranians to make their army / air force / navy much more dangerous than they really are, but these bache basijis are too dumb to understand that.
DeleteThe regimes supporters consists of a bunch of knuckleheads.
Delete