NEZAJA 'Muhammad Rasulullah 3' military exercise

Iran media imager depicting NEZAJA 'Muhammad Rasulullah 3' ("Muhammad the Messenger of God 3") military exercise involving 177th Independent Infantry Brigade and 38th Independent Armored Brigade, taking place 17NOV15 at Iran's eastern city of Torbat-e Jam in Khorasan Razavi Province:

Main armament of NEZAJA T-72 type main battle tank

NEZAJA 2nd lieutenant (L) and 2nd warrant officer (R) atop T-72 main battle tank turret

NEZAJA T-72 type main battle tank firing main armament

NEZAJA T-72 type main battle tank alomngside technical equipped with ZU-23-2 autocannon

IRIAF Northrop F-5 Tiger II fighter-bombers of 141st TFS from Mashhad/Shahid Hashemi Nejad TFB-14

IRIAF Northrop F-5 Tiger II fighter-bombers of 141st TFS from Mashhad/Shahid Hashemi Nejad TFB-14

IRIAF Northrop F-5 Tiger II fighter-bomber of 141st TFS from Mashhad/Shahid Hashemi Nejad TFB-14

IRIAA Bell AH-1J International Cobra (209), serial 3-4437 (cn 26637) of Attack Squadron from 5th Support & Assault Group.

IRIAA Bell (Agusta) AB-206B JetRanger II of Reconnaissance Squadron from 5th Support & Assault Group

Ghods Mohajer (“Migrant”) type reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

NEZAJA ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon

NEZAJA ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon

NEZAJA soldier equipped with RPG-7, with 2nd sergeant (R) looking on

NEZAJA corporal equipped with Iranian-manufactured G3-A3 battle rifle

NEZAJA soldier equipped with SPG-9 Kopye (“Spear”) 73 millimeter calibre recoilless gun

NEZAJA soldiers handling 73 mm round for SPG-9 recoilless gun

NEZAJA soldiers with machine gun belts, within infantry trench

NEZAJA marksmen equipped with Iranian-manufactured G3-A3 battle rifle fitted with telescopic sights

NEZAJA soldiers equipped with infantry mortar

NEZAJA soldiers equipped with DShKM type 12.7 mm heavy machine gun

Prepared position for recoilless guns, machine guns and hull-down technical

Simulated bombardment near road-bound NEZAJA BTR-60 armored personnel carriers

Foreground: NEZAJA Commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan

VIDEO:

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency and Mostafa Abbasi at Fars News Agency

Iran overhauls two Mirage F.1EQ6 fighter aircraft

 

According to the official Iran Air Force website:

Iranian technical experts in Shahid Nasser Habibi air base in Northeastern Iran managed to overhaul two mirage F1 fighter jets.

The two Mirage F1 aircraft required 45,000 man/hours of work.

After flight testing The two aircraft joined the Iranian Air Force fleet.

Photos accompanying brief report on the IRIAF website appear to show Dassault Mirage F.1EQ6 fighter aircraft in air defense camo scheme, at Shahid Nasser Habibi TFB.14 near Mashad. The base is named after a fallen IRIAF Mirage pilot lost to SA-14 fire during the course of a counter-narcotics operation.

 

New Pics: Mashad International Airport expansion

Expansion projects at Shahid Hashemi Nejad Airport (MHD / OIMM)

New public use storage facilities for small aircraft

New terminal expansion with high level of finish

New terminal seating at Mashad International /  Shahid Hashemi Nejad Airport

Minister Ali Nizkad disembarks from Red Crescent Society operated 

Mil Mi-171E, 6-9509 / IRC.4 (cn 171E00364073501U)

for a tour of the recent airport expansion

Photos: Nima Najafzadeh at  Fars News Agency

India to Invest in Chabahar Port

India announced it will invest $100 million in Iran’s Chabahar Port on the Sea of Oman, Mehr News Agency reported today. India is also planning to invest in 1,000 km (620 miles) Mashad-Chabahar railroad.

When and if both projects are completed, India can transport iron ore from Hajigak mines in Afghanistan, which an Indian consortium has won its concession, to Iranian border near Mashad and on to Chabahar for sea transport to India, bypassing Pakistan. The ore transport from Afghanistan to India without transshipment through Pakistan was a major challenge for the Indian consortium.

File photo: Iran’s Chabahar Port on Sea of Oman (IRNA) 

Imam Reza shrine in Mashad, 3/13

Ceremonies near the Imam Reza shrine roughly two weeks ago, where Leader Khamenei addressed Shia pilgrims

Good photographic perspective of current day Mashad

 

Numerous large-scale construction efforts visible throughout the city

Photos: khamenei.ir

Construction projects abound in modern-day Mashad

Mashad is currently experiencing a construction boom, with a number of projects recently completed or under construction. A popular destination for domestic tourism, the city is undergoing an urban transformation. For those among the Iranian diaspora that haven't seen what was decades ago little more than a holy site, the following pictorial should come as a real eye-opener.

Numerous construction cranes are evident amid the city landscape

Mashad as it appears today

Above: The newly opened Mashad cable bridge

The Majd Project, under construction

The Mashad Complex Series, under construction

Golshan Tower, under construction

Shandiz Holiday and Recreation Center, under construction

Left: Alban Tower, under construction

Right: Artists's rendering of completed Alban Tower

Moein Hotel, under final stages of contruction

Khorasan Office Building, recently completed

Darvishi Hotel Complex, recently completed

Danesh Residential Project, under construction

Kouhsangi Building and Park Project, under construction

Golden Palace International Hotel, recently completed

Mashad City Square Shams Complex, under construction

Mashad as seen in the evening