Closer ties between Russia and Iran reshape global military dynamics

One consequence of the war in Ukraine is the closer ties between Russia and countries unfriendly to the West. This includes Iran, whose armed forces feature a unique mix of archaic Western equipment bought during the Shah's era and products of their domestic defense industry. What weapons does this country's army possess?

Iran has indirectly become a participant in the war in Ukraine through its ammunition supplies to Russia, and most importantly, drones from the Shahed family. Meanwhile, as reported by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Tehran has recently decided to launch an attack on Israel.

Returning to the assistance provided by this country to Russia, it includes constructions of varying technical levels, sizes, and purposes. Iran manufactures both loitering munitions, simple strike drones, and large MALE-class drones that are - like the Shahed 149 Gaza - equivalent to American MQ-9 Reaper machines.

Iranian aid to Russia during the war in Ukraine primarily includes simple strike drones such as the Shahed 131 and Shahed 136. Both machines are powered by piston engines, have pusher propellers, and delta wing configurations.

The smaller Shahed 131 has a wingspan of 7 feet and weighs 408 pounds, including about 33 pounds of the warhead. The range of this machine is 559 miles. The larger Shahed 136 has a wingspan of 8 feet, weighs about 441 pounds, and can carry up to 44 pounds of explosives over a distance of up to 932 miles. Both drones have low flight speeds (about 115 mph), which makes them easier to combat.

Russians produce them (according to some sources, it's just assembly from Iranian parts) in the Yelabuga plant in Tatarstan, known as Geran-1 and Geran-2. The Shahed 238 drone offers significantly greater capabilities, with its Russian variant called M 237. This machine is powered by a jet engine and - according to Ukrainian sources - has a range of up to 1,243 miles and carries a 110-pound warhead.

The drone features a much more sophisticated guidance system, may be covered with a radar-absorbing layer, and its cruising speed reaches 373 mph, making it a significantly more challenging target. Although Russians have already publicly presented their version of this construction, there is no confirmation that they have managed to launch its mass production.

Due to its widespread use during the war in Ukraine and the characteristics of recent conflicts in the Middle East, various drones have become the hallmark of the Iranian defense industry. However, the capabilities of the Iranian industry do not end there.

The armament of the Iranian army is a true mosaic of equipment. This results from the fact that before the Islamic Revolution, Iran - then perceived by the West as a close and valuable ally - bought significant amounts of weapons in Europe and the United States.

Although due to the political and religious upheaval in 1979 not all orders were fulfilled, part of the equipment of the Iranian army originates from that time.

Tehran purchased about 1,000 Chieftain tanks in the UK (subsequently locally modernized as Mobarez) and about 300 FV101 armored vehicles, as well as Rapier anti-aircraft systems. From the United States, it acquired hundreds of M60 tanks, M113 transporters, and MIM-23 Hawk anti-aircraft launchers.

Probably the most significant enhancement of Iranian potential became American aircraft. A prime example is the F-14 Tomcat fighters, which Iran - after the U.S. Navy retired this equipment - is now the sole user. Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ordered up to 80 of these large, twin-engine machines with variable-geometry wings and advanced (for the 1970s) avionics.

Although almost half a century has passed since these machines were delivered, the Iranian Tomcats still command respect due to their exceptional armament - AIM-54A Phoenix air-to-air missiles with a range of over 112 miles. While it is unknown how many Tomcats remain flight-capable and the condition of the Phoenix missiles, they remain a force to be reckoned with in the Middle East and a concern for the Pentagon.

Because of the Iranian F-14s, the process of scrapping the American Tomcats was carried out under special supervision to prevent any parts or materials that could be used by Tehran from leaking out.

Remaining in service are some of the 200 F-4 Phantom aircraft and 300 F-5 light fighters ordered by the Shah. Based on these, the Iranian aviation industry built its own modernized version named HESA Saeqeh 2, with improved avionics, a new radar, and - according to Iranian sources - integration with modern weapon types.

Also dating back to the Shah's time are the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters used by the Iranian army and Panha and Toufan 2 variants produced using reverse engineering. The Asian country also operates, among other things, Bell 212 helicopters - it was in a crash of such a machine that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in May 2024.

Old American tanks have also been modernized, and the Iranian industry builds "its own" vehicles from available components. Probably the most interesting of these is the Zulfiqar tank (and its development versions), an odd combination of an old American M60 chassis, an Iranian turret, and Russian armament in the form of the 2A46 cannon used in T-72 tanks.

Another example of an Iranian tank - this time, according to Tehran, built entirely with indigenous forces - is Karar, visually similar to the Russian T-90.

Iran also operates a significant amount of older American artillery, such as the M107 (175 mm caliber), M109 (155 mm), or M110 (210 mm) self-propelled howitzers. The army also has Soviet/Russian-made systems, its own Raad family howitzers, and artillery imported from North Korea.

Besides weapons that exist in a useful form, Iran periodically astonishes the world with equipment that is most likely only a model or a mock-up. An example is the Iranian "stealth aircraft" Qaher-313 touted by Tehran as a 5th generation machine.

Although Qaher-313 has been presented multiple times, experts believe it is an obvious deception, with a cockpit too cramped for a standard-sized person, no radar, and lacking the typical service hatches to access various aircraft systems.

Similarly, "new" tanks are shown, which are practically British Chieftains with added, visually impressive armour or ships whose key asset seems to be their futuristic appearance, such as the corvettes Abu Mahdi or Shahid Soleimani handed over to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Completely real, however, are Iranian ballistic missiles. The security policy of Tehran, and at the same time a thorn in the side of neighbours and the West, are the missile capabilities intensively developed by this country.

The result of these efforts includes the Shahab family of ballistic missiles or the Ghadr-110 missile, considered a potential carrier of an Iranian nuclear warhead. Currently, Iran already possesses IRBM (intermediate-range ballistic missile) class missiles, with a range of 2,485-3,107 miles, and is working on intercontinental weapons.

A consequence of the development of missile forces is the space capabilities. Although many launches end in failure, Tehran can boast of independently putting payloads into orbit.