Iran Defense Industries Organization (Iran)
Karrar
Iran's domestically presented main battle tank, unveiled in 2017 and described by Iranian officials as based on a heavily modified Soviet T-72 hull with upgraded fire-control and armor. Independent verification of performance claims is limited and production numbers are commonly cited estimates.
In service since 2017
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
70
km/h
500
km range
24
hp/t
125
mm gun
48,000
kg
Pricing: Unit cost and production totals are commonly cited estimates, not independently confirmed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Sanctioned origin
Under multilateral sanctions; acquisition carries severe legal/financial exposure for most buyers.
Channel: State channel
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
In service since 2017. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Max speed
Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.
- 70 km/h Stronger than 73% of main battle tanks
- Range
Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.
- 500 km Stronger than 59% of main battle tanks
- Power-to-weight
Engine power per tonne of vehicle weight. Higher means better acceleration and cross-country mobility.
- 24 hp/t Stronger than 68% of main battle tanks
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Main armament
Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.
- 125 mm smoothbore gun with autoloader
- Caliber
Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better — ammunition commonality matters.
- 125 mm
- Ammunition
Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity.
- 39 Stronger than 23% of main battle tanks
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
- Armor
Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified.
- Composite armor with explosive reactive armor (claimed)
- Reactive armor
Explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks that disrupt shaped-charge jets.
- Yes
- NBC protection
Sealed crew compartment with overpressure filtration for nuclear/biological/chemical environments.
- Yes
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Combat weight
Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.
- 48,000 kg
- Crew
Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.
- 3
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
- Engine
Powerplant model and type.
- V-84MS-derived diesel (locally designated)
- Engine power
Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster.
- 1,000 hp Stronger than 31% of main battle tanks
- Propulsion type
Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…
- Diesel (tracked)
Specifications compiled from public Defense Industries Organization (Iran) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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KNDS Leopard 2A7 Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar? +
The Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar has a maximum speed of 70 km/h.
What is the range of the Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar? +
The Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar has a maximum range of 500 km.
How much does the Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar weigh? +
The Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar has a combat weight of 48,000 kg.
How many crew does the Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar require? +
The Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar requires a crew of 3.
What is the main armament of the Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar? +
The Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar's primary weapon is the 125 mm smoothbore gun with autoloader.
What engine does the Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar use? +
The Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar is powered by the V-84MS-derived diesel (locally designated).
What is the Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar used for? +
The Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar is a main battle tank typically used for infantry combat.
How much does the Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar cost? +
Defense Industries Organization (Iran) Karrar: Unit cost and production totals are commonly cited estimates, not independently confirmed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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