Iran’s Purchase of T-90 Tanks Not Cancelled: Commander
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Army has not still scrapped plans to buy Russian-made T-90 tanks, a top military commander announced, saying the country aims to import advanced technologies rather than just military hardware.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force General Kiomars Heidari said the Army has been ordered not to purchase the military gear without transferring the technology to the country.
Back in December 2015, Army Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan had unveiled plans for furnishing the armored units with the Russian-made T-90 tanks.
But later in February, he said Iran was not interested anymore in purchasing them, saying homegrown products can meet the country’s need for the battle tanks.
Elsewhere in his Sunday’s comments, General Heidari said the country’s domestically-made tank, dubbed Karrar, is now in service.
Karrar enjoys modern technologies, he explained, noting that the Army also owns another type of tank, known as Zolfaqar.
Earlier this month, Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said the homegrown Karrar tank “is as good as, if not better than, Russian-made T90 tanks”.
Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made great headways in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient in the arms sphere.