NEZAJA ‘Moharram’ rapid reaction force exercise- Tactical weapons

Iran media imagery of recently developed tactical weapons publicized 19OCT15 during NEZAJA ‘Moharram’ rapid reaction force exercise:

DIO Baher 23mm single-shot anti-materiel sniper rifle, in operation

DIO Baher 23mm anti-material sniper rifle fitted with telescopic sight and mounted on tripod, with adjacent spotter scope 

Muzzle of DIO Baher 23mm anti-material sniper rifle 

NEZAJA lieutenant handling bolt and 23mm round for DIO Baher anti-material sniper rifle 

Mersad ("Ambush") sniper rifle fitted with what appears to be thermal imaging scope

DIO Fajr-224 ("Dawn-224") assault rifle (5.56x45mm NATO)

Mobile DIO Mesbah anti-aircraft artillery system (four remotely activated Iranian variant ZU-23-2 autocannons)

Operator with remote control box for DIO Mesbah anti-aircraft artillery system

Small UAV (SUAV) unmanned aerial vehicle operated by NEZAJA infantry

Demonstration flight of small UAV (SUAV) unmanned aerial vehicle, operated by NEZAJA infantry

Technicians arming Kaveh-30 automatic grenade launcher, with what appear to be live rounds

NEZAJA Commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan demonstrating the firing of Kaveh-30 automatic grenade launcher.

RPG-29 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher (NATO: Vampir), possible Iranian variant. In background, Sepehr ("Sky") tactical vehicle.

RPG-29 on firing stand, for demonstration purposes fired remotely by pullcord attached to trigger 

RPG-29 tandem type warhead, appearing to be DIO variant Ghadir ("Intensity") 105 mm anti-armor rocket

Photos: Alvandkhabar.ir

Iran reportedly assisting Taliban to defeat ISIL in Afghanistan

Above: DIO PKM T-80 machine gun, a type possibly supplied to Taliban from Iran  [photo: MINDEX]

According to International Business Times, dated 12JUN15:

Fears over the rise of the Islamic State group in Afghanistan are spawning some unlikely alliances in the region. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, which cited Afghan and U.S. officials, Iran -- a Shiite powerhouse currently engaged in proxy and direct wars with several Sunni states and groups -- is now providing weapons, ammunition and funds to the Taliban.

“Iran supplies us with whatever we need,” a Taliban commander named Abdullah told the Journal, claiming that he was approached by an Iranian intelligence official during his detention in the country. “He asked me how much money I made, and that he would double my salary if I went to work for them [Iranians] in Afghanistan.”

Abdullah claimed that the Taliban were receiving weapons such as 82mm mortars, light machine guns, AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and materials for making roadside bombs from Iran. These weapons are allegedly shipped into Afghanistan through the common border between Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Journal reported. Toward this end, the drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan has also helped smugglers, who can now cross the porous border undetected.

Shia-majority Iran and the Sunni militant group Taliban have long been foes and almost came to a full-blown war in 1998 when Iran deployed more than 70,000 troops along the Afghan border in response to the killing of its diplomats. The Iranian officials were allegedly killed by the Taliban, which was then in complete control of the Afghan government. A full-scale conflict in the region was prevented only after the United Nations intervened.

However, recent reports have hinted at the formation of an alliance between the two ideological foes, spurred by the rise of a common enemy in eastern Afghanistan.

COMMENTARY: And so, the military alliances have come full circle. Where, during the1980's the United States supported the Mujahideen (later morphed into Taliban) against USSR, now Iran is reportedly supporting the Taliban against ISIL.

That Iran could put the past behind it and pragmatically assist a former foe to defeat ISIL is potentially instructive, should the reported effort achieve the defeat of ISIL in Afghanistan.

Beyond the immediate, reported support of this force against ISIL, such assistance-- if accurate-- might also serve to provide Iran with a means of influence upon two sides of the current Afgan conflict, that is the Afghan central government (with which Iran has formal relations) as well as the Taliban. In the long run this positioning might potentially render service towards conflict resolution in that enduring war. Of course, such would not be the case were such Iranian arms supplied to the Taliban be turned against the Afghan central government.

Below are additional examples of Iranian arms identified in the report as having been provided to the Taliban:

DIO HM-10H 82 mm infantry mortar  [photo: DIO]

DIO RPG-7 type rocket-propelled grenade launchers  [photo: DIO]

DIO KL-7 (Type 56, AKM) types: top KLS, bottom KLF black  [photo: DIO]

Falaq mobile rocket launcher & Zafar tactical vehicle

Seen at least as far back as the 2013 Sacred Defense Parade at Tehran, MODAFL has now formally publicized the Falaq ("Twilight") mobile rocket launcher, seen here firing a 333 mm Falaq-2 rocket.

Falaq mobile rocket launcher utilizes variant of Kaviran tactical vehicle; product of DIO

Open source evidence depicts combat applications of similar Falaq rocket launcher type arrangements in use during current Syrian conflict, possibly explaining the timing of this formal publicity. MODAFL claims Falaq rocket launcher system "capability to destroy enemy targets within a radius of 10 kilometers."

Another defense product of DIO now publicized by MODAFL is the Zafar ("Victory") 8x8 tactical heavy vehicle. Claimed specifications include two steerable axles, an operational range of 800 kilometers and capable of carrying loads up to 24 tons over moderately rough terrain and obstacles.

MODAFL claims Zafar vehicle "capable of carrying various launchers, missiles, radars, rockets and command posts”

VIDEO (Irib News)

Photos: YJC.ir and Islamic Republic News Agency

Assessment of Small-calibre Ammunition in Syria by N.R. Jenzen-Jones

 

An interesting electronic publication has appeared addressing specific evidence of small-caliber ammunition seen on the Syrian battlefield, including ammunition determined to be of Iranian origin.

Following the Headstamp Trail: An Assessment of Small-calibre Ammunition Documented in Syria. by N.R. Jenzen-Jones can be accessed HERE.

The publication represents "A Working Paper of the Small Arms Survey/Security Assessment in North Africa project, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

Jenzen-Jones is the publisher of The Rogue Adventurer: A world of small arms, light weapons, ammunition & ordnance.

File photo: DIO

DIO Self-propelled 155 mm/39 HM41 howitzer

click photos to enlarge

Truck mounted DIO 155 mm/39 HM41 howitzer (domestically upgraded US M114).

Truck mount appears to be a derived MAN 6x6 variant, with secondary cab and crew bench.

Angled HM41 gun with recoil plate depressed.

New SPG appears to be a locally produced and economical solution for Iran's mobile artillery requirements.

Photos: Vahid Reza Alaei at FARS & ISNA