Iran Air's 2nd new Airbus airliner arrives at Tehran

Iran Air on 11Mar2017 received its new addition: an Airbus A330-243E. (This is undelivered Avianca Brasil reg. PR-OCL, with first flight 02JUN2014.) This marks the 2nd Airbus passenger jet received by Iran Air following JCPOA and the agreement's stipulated resumption of new airliner deliveries.

Iran Air Flight IR700 from TLS arrived THR at 08:58 hrs

Iran Air Airbus A330-243E, reg. EP-IJA (msn 1540)

Pilot and first officer of Iran Air Flight IR700

EP-IJA received inside Iran Air Engineering and Maintenance facility hangar at Tehran International Airport

External front section detail of EP-IJA

Iran Air Flight IR700 crew and ranking personnel disembark from EP-IJA

Official reception for EP-IJA at the Iran Air Engineering and Maintenance facility hangar

External detail of Rolls-Royce Trent 772C-60 engine

Livery detail of the Iran Air Homa griffin, applied by Airbus at CHR

Seating configuration rendered for EP-IJA is C32 Y206

Detail of first class seating accommodations on EP-IJA

In the same hangar behind clear plastic sheeting is another Airbus wide-body twin-engine jet airliner; this one apparently engaged in heavy maintenance visit (HMV).

Photos: Efran Kouchari at Tasnim News Agency

IRINS Damavand and Derafsh at Makhachkala

Imagery dated 10MAR2017 of Iran Navy flotilla visit to Makhachkala in Russia's Republic of Dagestan:

Left to right:

IRINS Derafsh (P233) Sina-class fast attack craft (PGGF)

IRINS Damavand (77) Moudge class guided missile frigate (FFGH)

RFS Dagestan (ex-Albatros) Gepard class (Project 11661K) frigate

Detail of IRINS Derafsh (P233) Sina-class fast attack craft (PGGF)

Avar maiden rendering traditional offering of bread to visiting commander of IRIN flotilla Captain Moshen Sheydaei.

Officers aboard IRINS Damavand guided missile frigate

IRIN commander of flotilla Captain Moshen Sheydaei received by Russian Navy captain 1st rank

Russian Navy captain 1st rank hosted aboard IRINS Damavand guided missile frigate

RFS Dagestan and IRINS Damavand docked side-by-side at Makhachkala

VIDEO:

Photos: Sputnik News

Iran and allied Iraqi PMF at IQDEX2017

For the second year Iran participated in the International Defense Exhibition in Iraq (IQDEX 2017), held in Baghdad from 5 to 7 March 2017. Iran exhibitors included IRI Ministry of Defense, Marine Industries Organization, National Geographic Organization, Shahid Meisami Group, Defense Industries Organization and Aviation Industries Organization. Also exhibiting was Iran-allied Iraqi Popular Mobilization Unit.

Of note, Iran arms exports are still subject to restriction per JCPOA and UNSC. Seemingly only in Iraq can Iranian and American arms vendors solicit sales in the same locale.

Below is open-source imagery of the exhibitors:

From Iran's Defense Industries Organization (DIO) exhibitor space: promotional poster of Pirooz ("Victory") anti-armor vehicle system. Iranian ATGM platform utilizes Dehlavieh (Kornet-E) launchers with mobility rendered by Karivan Aras ("Even") tactical vehicle.

Ad slick for Pirooz ("Victory") anti-armor vehicle system

From Iran's Defense Industries Organization (DIO) exhibitor space: promotional materials for Toofan ("Typhoon") BGM-71 TOW variant,  Raad ("Thunder") AT-3 variant and Saeghe ("Lightning") M47 variant anti-tank guided missiles.

Behind the Toofan display are examples of Misagh ("Covenant") MANPADS launcher and missile.

In the background can be seen exhibitor space for Iran's Aviation Industries Organization.

Exhibitor space for Iran-allied Popular Mobilization Force. Displayed weapon types include 107 mm multiple rocket launcher, Ashtar rocket and explosively formed penetrators (EFPs). EFPs are particularly notorious for use by Iran-backed armed groups against coalition vehicles during the military occupation of Iraq.

Iran-allied PMU exhibitor space promotional banners are titled "Technical Directorate for Military Production," likely related to political efforts intended to officially include Popular Mobilization Force within Iraq's military and security establishment.

Iraqi PMU representatives similar in appearance to Lebanese Hezbollah and IRGC

Iraqi Military Industries display what appears to be local variant of Iranian AM50 (HS .50) single-shot anti-materiel sniper rifle.

Above image noteworthy as rendered on promotional brochure for IQDEX2017. Image depicts a smiling Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Othman Al-Ghanami, touring Iran's DIO exhibitor space during IQDEX2016.

 

The promotional brochure for IQDEX2017 also featured this image of Iran's DIO exhibitor space fromg IQDEX2016.

IHSRC 'Saba-248' utility helicopter: Agusta, Bell and Iranian improvisation

Publicity images from a 07MAR2017 ceremony publicizing the IHSRC Saba-248 utility helicopter. Saba is twin-engined with four rotor blades and a seating capacity of eight, giving it the numerical type "248".

Superficially, IHSRC Saba-248 utility helicopter appears to be a mix of Agusta A109E Power and  Bell 206 JetRanger, with recognizable influence from the Bell 429 GlobalRanger.

Indeed, the Saba-248 appears to recycle as core, former Tara Air Agusta A109E Power reg. EP-TRB (MSN 11007), that was damaged in a 03OCT 2015 crash. [source: Babak Taghvaee]

Official Iranian claims for this helicopter as being" indigenously designed and manufactured" are assumed based on domestic political considerations, given that Iran has been prevented from acquiring new aircraft for an extended period.

Fabricated composite replacement sections bear resemblance to the Bell 429 GlobalRanger, such as the nose and lower rear fuselage swoop. Replacement doors also of composite construction.

IHSRC Saba-248 claims greater duration than its Agusta A109E core, a result of reduced weight and possibly enlarged fuel tank capacity.

Fabricated composite tail boom appears to utilize a Bell 206 JetRanger type vertical and horizontal stabilizer.

Retractable landing gear from the Augusta A109E core removed in favor of a simplified tubular landing skid setup.

Also simplified is the windshield design and fitment.

Windshield wiper feature of Augusta A109E core absent on Saba-248.

Cockpit instrumentation and controls taken from Augusta A109E core. 

Locally reupholstered seats and carpeting featured in cockpit and cabin sections.

View of helicopter assembly inside facility of Iranian Helicopter Support and Renewal Company (IHSRC).

 

Tara Air Agusta A109E Power reg. EP-TRB (MSN 11007)

VIDEO:

Photos: Tasnim News, MOD.ir, "reza sh" and collection of Babak Taghvaee

'Damavand' air defense exercise, S-300 test

Iran media imagery of Khatam Al-Anbia "Damavand" air defense exercise initiated 03MAR2017 near Semnan. During the exercise Iran tested the S-300PMU2, claiming successful intercept of a ballistic missile.

Almaz 5P85TE2 transporter erector launcher (TEL) vehicle for S-300PMU2 system

NIIP 64N6E2 Big Bird acquisition radar for S-300PMU2 system

LEMZ 96L6E acquisition radar for S-300PMU2 system

Almaz 30N6E2 Tomb Stone engagement radar for S-300PMU2 system

S-300PMU2 system mobile command vehicle followed by missile transport vehicles

S-300PMU2 system missile transloader vehicles followed by a mobile communication relay vehicle

Launch of what appears to be 48N6E2 intercepter missile from 5P85TE2 transporter erector launcher

Launch of intercepter missile

Detail of launched intercepter missile

Kian traget drone during Damavand air defense exercise

Karrar type target drone during Damavand air defense exercise

Transported 5V28 type round for S-200 type SAM system

TEL vehicle followed by missile transports for Talaash ("Endeavor") air defense system

Ofoq (“Horizon”) mobile radar vehicle for Talash air defense system

Transported 5T53M type missile containers following S-300 missile transport vehicles

Foreground: Islamic Republic of Iran Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base commander Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili.

VIDEO:

Photos: DefaPress.ir and IRIBnews.ir

IRIN encounter with USN tracking ship

It was reported that on 02MAR2017 a USN tracking ship encountered an IRIN frigate near the Strait of Horumz. According to CBS News:

A U.S. Navy surveillance ship had a close encounter with an Iranian navy frigate in the Middle East, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

The frigate came within 150 yards of the USNS Invincible on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman, just south of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The gulf separates Oman from southeastern Iran.

The encounter was deemed “unprofessional” but not unsafe because the frigate was on a parallel course with the Invincible at the point of closest approach.

COMMENT: Described encounter would have an Iran Navy Alvand or Moudge class frigate responding to a Stalwart class tracking ship.

Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) frigates in the Persian Gulf operate from Bandar Abbas, IRIN 1st Region and HQ; while USNS Invincible currently operates from Bahrain, home of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

USNS Invincible is oufitted to perform surveillance activities, functioning as a “missile range instrumentation ship” capable of collecting ballistic missile launch data over 2000 km away. The vessel is equipped with a dual S- and X-band Gray Star radar which is tasked and serviced by USAF. The S-band acquires and tracks a potential target while the X-band collects signature data. [source: bellingcat].

During the week of the encounter, Iran had issued a NOTAM for the Semnan area and publicized test firing of a S-300PMU2 long range SAM system. Prior to that, IRIN had been involved in Velayat 95 naval exercises in the Persian Gulf.

File photos for vessel or vessel types are as follows:

USNS Invincible (T-AGM-24) Stalwart class tracking ship

Moudge class guided missile frigate (FFGH)

Iranian development of Alvand (Vosper Mark V) class

Foreground: Alvand (Vosper Mark V) class frigate (FFG)

Photos: 
Tabatness
Mahdi Marizad at Fars News Agency

U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence updates report on Iranian Naval Forces

U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence has published a FEB2017 updated rendering of “Iran’s Naval Forces: A Tale of Two Navies". Monograph available for download HERE.