Boragh

Infobox Weapon
name=Boragh
caption=Boragh APC
origin=Iran
type=Armoured personnel carrier
is_vehicle=yes
manufacturer=Defense Industries Organization
production_date=1997 - Present
used_by= See "Operators"
length=6.72 m
width=3.10 m
height=1.66 m
weight=13 tons
suspension=torsion bar
speed=65km/h off-road 45km/h
vehicle_range=550km
primary_armament=12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun (1,000 rounds), 30mm cannon, 120mm mortar or a Toophan ATGM launcher
secondary_armament=unknown
armour=Welded steel
engine=V-8 diesel
crew=3 crew + 8 infantry
engine_power=330 hp (246 kW)
pw_ratio=unknown

The Boragh is an Iranian-made armoured personnel carrier. Boragh is believed to be a reverse engineered and upgraded model of the Chinese Type 86 (BMP-1). The upgrades include a reduction in weight, a higher road speed, and stronger armor. The vehicle is fully amphibious and is fitted with an NBC protection system and infra-red night vision equipment.

It was reported in early May 2002, that three additional variants are produced by the Vehicle and Equipment Group (VEIG) of the Iranian Defence Industries Organisation (DIO). These are a 120 mm mortar carrier, an ammunition resupply vehicle, and an armoured personnel carrier (APC) fitted with improved armaments. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/wz501.htm Type 86 WZ501 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.] ]

Variants

* Boragh - Reverse engineered BMP-1 or Type 86 (WZ-501) converted into an APC. It is very similar to Chinese WZ-503 APC. It has V-8 turbocharged diesel engine which delivers 330 hp (246 kW). It also has road wheels from the US M113 APC. Combat weight was reduced to 13 tonnes. The other upgrades include a higher road speed and stronger armor. Number of passengers was increased from 8 to 12. 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun (1,000 rounds) serves as a main weapon of the vehicle. [http://www.jedsite.info/fulltrack-bravo/bravo/boragh_series/boragh-series.html "JED The Military Equipment Directory"] ]
** Boragh APC with a shield around DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun mount.
** Boragh converted into an IFV. It is armed with 30 mm cannon.
** Boragh armed with 120 mm mortar.
** Boragh with 1-man turret armed with the Toophan ATGM system.
** Raad-1 (Thunder-1) - Boragh APC chassis fitted with a turret from the 2S1 Gvozdika.
** Raad-2 (Thunder-2) - Boragh APC chassis fitted with a turret that has a similar layout to the M109A1 155mm/39-cal self-propelled howitzer fitted with 155 mm HM44 howitzer manufactured by the Hadid facility of the Iranian Defence Industries Organisation. 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.
** Cobra - Concept vehicle for the Boragh armed with 23 mm anti-aircraft gun for use as a fire support vehicle.
** Boragh converted into an ammunition resupply vehicle.

Operators

*IRN - 40 Boragh APCs in 2000 and 2002 and about 140 Boragh APCs as of 2005. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/ground-equipment.htm Iranian Ground Forces Equipment ] ]
*KAZ - 40 Boragh APCs in 2000 and 2002 and about 140 Boragh APCs as of 2005. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/centralasia/kazak-ground-equipment.htm Kazak Ground Forces Equipment ] ]

ee also

*Military of Iran
*Iranian military industry
*Equipment of the Iranian army

References

ources

* [http://www.republic-news.org/archive/97-repub/97_kay.htm Here is what they'll find in Iran]
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/wz501.htm Boragh armored infantry fighting vehicle] fas.org