Iran has unveiled what appears to be its first indigenously developed mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle (MRAP) on 13 August.
The Raad MRAP was unveiled on 13 August. (Iranian Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics)
The Raad was unveiled in a ceremony held at the Defense Industries Organization in Isfahan and attended by Defence Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami, as well as senior officers from the land forces, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and police.
Brig Gen Hatami said the MRAP is a more advanced version of the Toufan, according to the statement released by the Ministry of Defence. He added that it has a monocoque chassis with a V-shaped hull that makes it highly resistant to mines, roadside bombs, and anti-tank weapons.
When it was officially unveiled in November 2018, the Toufan was said to be an Iranian design even though it was a copy of the Typhoon MRAP made by the Streit Group, which is based in the United Arab Emirates. The Toufan was also a 4×4 vehicle, while the Raad has three axels.
An Aras-2 tactical vehicle at the vehicle testing facility. (Iranian Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics)
It was also announced during the event that the Aras-2 tactical vehicle was being delivered to the armed forces, with Brig Gen Hatami saying it was a significant improvement on earlier models in terms of its off-road capability, range, power-to-weight ratio, and ability to carry weapons. He added that a large number would be delivered to the military.
Iranian television showed footage of seven Aras-2s at a vehicle test facility, most of them mounting heavy weapons, including small multiple rocket launchers as well as many more on a production line.
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