TEHRAN - Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan unveiled a number of weaponry, including an optimized version of chieftain battle tank.

Chieftain battle tanks entered service with the British Army for the first time and have been in service in a number of armies around the world, including Iran.
Considering unique typological features of Iran’s geography, battle tanks feature strongly in country’s defense strategy.
The country has been developing and upgrading advanced home-grown battle tanks such as Zulfiqar (the legendary sword of Ali, the first Shiite Imam) and Karar (striker).
Zulfiqar, already introduced in three versions, has undergone considerable upgrades, including its fire system control and the autoloader. 
Over the past weeks, there were news stories about Russia’s decision to sell T-90 battle tanks to Iran. Iran has shown interest in having part of the assembly line built in the country.
Also, according to the commander, the Army helicopter fleet has been equipped with night vision systems and laser-guided missiles.
”A liquid armor invented by NEZAJA (Iranian Army Ground Forces)experts will shield our helicopters against 7.62mm and 12.7mm caliber weapons.” 
Among other items unveiled were communication shelters, BGM-71 TOW launcher testing station, ammunition-support vehicles, 1924 crane car, 3.4 ton-ambulance Safir (an Iranian 4x4 multipurpose military vehicle), personnel carrier Kian, self-propelled, wheeled air defense system Bahman 57, optimized battle tank Tyyam, heavy tactical tank transporter Pouria and FH16, optimized version of Dragunov sniper rifle, and CBRN vehicle named Shahram.
CBRN vehicles are equipped with various technologies for protection against chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) threats.
The event comes days before Iran will mark National Army Day, which falls on April 17 this year.
While Western powers, particularly the U.S., have shunned selling weaponry to Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the country has grown more self-sufficient in the sector due to its domestic capacities.

AK/PA

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Army helicopter fleet has been equipped with night vision systems and laser-guided missiles.