Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force Brigadier General Kiomars Heidari said that most advanced domestically-built tank of the country, Karrar (Striker), will join the military body’s fleet according to a new agreement with the Defense Ministry.

Speaking to reporters in Tehran, Brigadier General Heidari said that the Iranian Army Ground Force is due to sign an agreement with Defense Ministry to get Karrar (Striker) tanks, which constitute Iran’s most advanced domestically-built tank that is also among the most powerful tanks in the world.

He added that the Ground Force is to unveil new military hardware, including armored vehicles, armor piercing weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles and electronic warfare equipment, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.

Heidari said the achievements will be showcased during a military parade taking place today on the occasion of the National Army Day.

During the parade, the Iranian Army’s Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base will also display the S-300 missile defense system, the domestically-manufactured high-altitude and solid-fuel Sayyad 2 (Hunter II) missiles, Sayyad 3 (Hunter III) missiles, short-range and long-range radars and electronic warfare systems, he added.

The Senior Commander noted that the Iranian Army will also use its Saeqeh, Raad and Azarakhsh aircraft and perform aerial refueling operations on Thursday.

Heidari said Iran has achieved self-sufficiency in the technology needed to manufacture armored and anti-armor equipment, artillery, drones and helicopters.

In March 2017, Iran unveiled its most advanced domestically-manufactured tank of amphibious mobility for induction into the country’s armored assets.

The then Defense Minister, Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan, said Karrar was among the most advanced tanks in the world because of its remarkable features. 

Its fire and precision power and mobility were comparable to the most state-of-the-art of its kind in the world, he added.

Among the tank’s features, Dehqan enumerated its electro-optical fire control system, laser-aided distance measurement capability and the capability to strike either mobile or fixed targets in both nighttime and daytime.

Back in July, the Defense Ministry declared plans to supply the army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) with 800 home-made tanks.

Deputy Defense Minister General Reza Mozaffarinia said at the time that Iran manufactures 50 to 60 tanks every year as demanded by the army and the IRGC.

Iran has over the past years made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and hardware.

The Islamic Republic says its military power poses no threat to other countries and is merely based on the doctrine of deterrence.