IRIN 44th Flotilla comprising IRINS Alvand frigate and IRINS Bushehr replenishment ship arrived back at Bandar Abbas on 11MAR2017. During its 5-month expedition, IRIN 44th Flotilla moored at Dar es Salaam port on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coast as well as extended stay at Durban Harbor in South Africa, likely for repairs to IRINS Bushehr [see HERE].
File photos of vessels rendered below:
IRINS Alvand (71) Alvand class (Vosper Mark V) frigate (FFG)
IRINS Bushehr (422) Bandar Abbas class replenishment ship (AORLH)
IRIN 45th Flotilla departed after conclusion of 44th Flotilla's extended mission, arriving 13MAR2017 at Oman’s port city of Salalah. IRIN 45th Flotilla comprises IRINS Naghdi corvette and IRINS Tonb. IRIN 45th Flotilla intends "to protect Iran’s cargo vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab Strait." [source: IRNA]
IRINS Tonb (513) Hengam class landing ship logistic (LSLH)
Location dated 13MAR2017 for IRIN 45th Flotilla. Oman may be a transfer point where Iran renders a level of logistical support to Ansarallah and the Sana'a government.
Iran media imagery dated 12MAR2017 of public unveiling of production series T-72 Karrar ("Striker") main battle tank, an upgrade package evidently heavily inspired or assembled as kit based on the Russian T-90MS type:
MODAFL Minister Brig. Gen. Dehghan at the unveiling ceremony in Tehran. It is thought Iran may upgrade its stocks of T-72 MBTs to Karrar specifications. Moreover this upgrade would see Iran's ground forces through to the end of embargo period (as stipulated by JCPOA) and possibly beyond. Determining the extent of T-72 stocks to be upgraded remains dependent on sufficient IRIG funding.
T-72 Karrar utilizes detachable ERA modules in a turret arrangement similar to the T-90MS, with enlarged ERA modules applied to the glacis.
Detail of ERA module turret arrangement and side hull protection for the crew compartment
Evident in this view are louver panels to protect power pack compartment and turret rear, similar if not identical to the T-90MS. Turret fitted with RWS equipped with 7.62 mm MG, thermal imager, day sight optic and laser rangefinder.
Much to see in this view, including: gunner sight day sight and thermal imager, small searchlight at gunner hatch, driver camera system featuring day/night optics, smoke dischargers and LED headlights.
Polygonal metal sleeve seen fitted to main armament gun barrel. Also evident are updated track front fenders. Just visible is the tank commander sight.
Slight differences from example previously publicized include different RWS armament and track front fenders. Also, camera system for driver is absent.
Good view of ERA module arrangement for T-72 Karrar MBT
Iran media presentation depicted the Karrar upgrade as indigenously designed, offering samples of CAD imagery. It is at this point open to debate as to whether this is a Russian-supplied upgrade kit or possibly a product of Russo-Iranian cooperation. Should this upgrade package--or parts of it-- be found marketed elsewhere, then origin might better be ascertained.
Upgrade assembly at Bani-Hashem Armored Complex include image of Karrar turret. Interestingly, there are no Iran media images of turret manufacture.
Imagery of bare Karrar turrets, arranged for assembly
Line of T-72 hulls with road wheels attached. Interestingly, the power packs have been removed. The question of whether Karrar package includes a new power pack is another aspect of the upgrade to be ascertained.
Imagery of hull with road wheels removed, yet ERA modules and rear-located protective louvers installed
Imagery of Karrar upgrade turret with main armament fitted and ERA modules attached
Another image of Karrar upgrade turret, with ERA modules being fitted
Apparently a different assembly order in place at Bani-Hashem Armored Complex. Note hinged rear section of turret.
Main armament fitment into Karrar upgrade turret
Significant to the Karrar upgrade package is the new fire control system (FCS). Origin of upgraded FCS is another unknown. Note adapted Panasonic CF-19 and apparent crudeness of interior detail, including common wingnut hardware.
Display featuring digitized vehicle instrumentation; source unknown. Whether or not digital instrumentation is an adaption to existing power pack or points to a new unit, is at this point undetermined.
Alternate screen of same display. Date shown suggests this is file footage from last year.
Display rendering from camera system day sight optic
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).
