Raad-2

Raad-2 ("Thunder-2") is an Iranian self-propelled howitzer.

Raad-2 / Thunder-2
Illustration of Raad-2
TypeSelf-propelled howitzer
Place of originIran
Service history
In service1997 - present
Used byIran
Warsnone
Production history
DesignerDefense Industries Organization
DesignedSeptember 1997
Produced1997 - Present
No. builtat least 36[1]
VariantsRaad-2M
Specifications
Mass36 tons
Length6.72 m (without the gun)
Width3.10 m
Height1.66 m (without the turret)
Crew3 (commander, driver and gunner)
Rate of fire5 rounds/min
Effective firing range30 km (19 mi)
Main
armament
155 mm HM44 howitzer
Secondary
armament
12.7 mm HMG
EngineV-8 diesel for Raad-2
5TDF for Raad-2M
840 hp for Raad-2[2]
700 hp for Raad-2M [3]
SuspensionTorsion bar
Operational
range
500 km
Maximum speed 70 km/h (43 mph)

Design and development

In early September 1997 it was reported that Iran had successfully tested a locally built rapid fire mobile field gun known as Raad-2 (Thunder-2).[4]

It uses a turret that has a similar layout to the M109A1 155mm/39-cal self-propelled howitzer. The Iranian Defense Industries Organization claimed that the 155 mm HM44 howitzer manufactured by the Hadid facility of the Iranian Defense Industries Organization had a high firing rate and accuracy. It was described as being able to fire five rounds per minute. The gun's range was reported as 30 km (19 mi), and it also includes features such as a laser range-finder and a semi-automatic loading system. The gun looks exactly like 155mm/39-cal M185 gun from M109A1 and is fitted with a double baffle muzzle brake, fume extractor, screw breech mechanism, hydro-pneumatic recuperator and a hydraulic recoil brake. It uses the Iranian-made Boragh APC chassis, a conversion of the either the Russian BMP-1 or Chinese Type 86 (WZ-501) IFV. It was described as being able to move with a speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) on the battlefield.

Variants
  • Raad-2 - basic SPG version.
    • Raad-2M - Raad-2 upgraded with a Ukrainian-made 5TDF engine instead of a V-8 Diesel engine.

See also
  • Military of Iran
  • Iranian military industry
  • Current Equipment of the Iranian Army
  • Tanks of Iran

References
Notes
  1. Galen Wright (March 15th 2011) Iranian Military Capability 2011 - Ground Forces
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2017-03-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2017-03-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Bibliography
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