Iran's Defense Ministry to Mass-Produce Homegrown Tank Zolfaqar: Commander
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Commander of Iran's Army Ground Force Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan said the domestically-made battle tank named “Zolfaqar” have been delivered to the Defense Ministry for mass-production.
Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Brigadier General Pourdastan praised the country’s self-sufficiency in defense sector, saying that today, the Islamic Republic’s defense industries have successfully developed the capability to mass-produce modern defense equipment proportionate to the threats posed against the country and needs of the Armed Forces without relying on any foreign countries.
Zolfaqar Tank has been designed and manufactured by Iran's Army Ground Force and has also been delivered to the Defense Ministry for mass-production, the commander noted.
Back in December 2015, General 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.
Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan also said earlier last month that homegrown tanks are 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.