Fath Safir

Safir (Persian: سفیر‎, meaning "traveler") is an Iranian 4x4 multipurpose military vehicle built by Fath Vehicle Industries.[2] The Safir weighs 1.5 tonne and is based on the M38.[1] The jeep can be distinguished from the M38 due to the sharp angled body panels, hood and grille.[3]

Safir
A Safir on a parade
TypeMultipurpose military vehicle
Place of originIran
Service history
Used bySee Operators
Production history
ManufacturerFath Vehicle Industries
Produced2008-Present (Iran)
2013-Present (Sudan)
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass1.62 tonnes. 2.35 tonnes fully loaded
Length3.726 m
Width1.69 m
Height1.88 m
Crew1 (+5 passengers)
Main
armament
12x Fajr 1 107 mm rockets, or a 106 mm recoilless rifle or a Toophan anti-tank missile launcher
EngineNissan Z24 gasoline engine
105 hp
Power/weight44.68 hp/tonne
SuspensionCoil spring
Operational
range
500 km[1]
Maximum speed 130 km/h

It has been supplied to Iraq via militia forces since it is inexpensive and affordable to produce them in mass numbers.[4]

History

The Safir was officially unveiled in 2008. In the ceremony, Iranian defense minister said that 3,000 Safirs were built in that year, and Fath industries would deliver 5,000 more vehicles to defense industry per year.[5] The jeep was seen in public media outside of Iran with its use under pro-Iranian militias fighting against Islamic State.[6]

Sudan makes the Safir under license as the Karaba VTG01, which was publicly shown to visitor at the IDEX 2013 convention in the United Arab Emirates.[7]

Variants

Safir has a modular build and has many models. These include:[1]

  • A version equipped with 12 Fajr 1 107 mm rocket tubes.
  • A version equipped with a 106 mm recoilless rifle (M40) for use against enemy armored vehicles
  • A model equipped with a Toophan anti-tank missile launcher to counter enemy tanks
  • A model equipped with 9K11 Malyutka anti-tank missiles (Probably Iranian produced Ra'ad)
  • A model equipped with Towsan anti-tank missiles
  • A variant equipped with a Grenade launcher
  • Command vehicle
  • Ambulance
  • Radio wave emitter

The Safir can be used to transport of heavy weapons like the Fajr 1 rockets, 106 mm recoilless rifle and Toophan anti tank missile.[2]

Operators


  •  Iran: Used by the Iranian military.[8]
  •  Iraq: Provided Safirs to bolster Iraqi military forces.[9]
  •  Sudan: Made under license as Karaba VTG01.[7]
  •  Syria: Safirs seen in use with Syrian military forces.[10]

Non-state actors
  • Safir 1
  • Standard variant
  • Standard variant
  • Command/Communication variant
  • Command/Communication variant
  • Anti-tank variant
  • Safir-4 vehicle

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "واحد مرکزی خبر | IRIB News". Iribnews.ir. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20160311173302/http://www.offroadvehicle.ru/AZBUCAR/Safir.html
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "آغاز توليد انبوه انواع خودروي تاكتيكي سفير در وزارت دفاع". ۱۳۸۶-۱۰-۰۴. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Iraq: Turning a blind eye: The arming of the Popular Mobilization Units" (PDF). Amnesty International. 5 January 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  12. Puxton, Matteo (25 February 2019). Macé, Maxime (ed.). "Pour se battre en Syrie, l'Iran enrôle massivement des Afghans chiites". France Soir (in French). Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.