https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5885-818X
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ABSTRACT
The paper’s goal is to analyses the potential of the Iranian defence industry, including both research-and-development and production capabilities. It is argued that, despite official statements about the great power and sophistication of the Iranian defence industry, in reality its capabilities are very limited and cannot meet the operational needs of the Iranian armed forces. At the same time, it is argued that many official releases, which are abundantly available in the Iranian press and often unthinkingly repeated by the Western media, do not present the real and value of military products, but are rather a tool for deception and propaganda.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes on contributor
Robert Czulda at University of Lodz, Poland. Between 2017 and 2018 Visiting Scholar at Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland University (Fulbright Senior Award). Visiting Lecturer at universities in Iran, Brazil, and Taiwan. Freelance contributor to IHS Jane’s and Atlantic Council. Author of a book entitled Iran 1925–2014. Between Reza Shah and Hassan Rouhani.
ORCID
Robert Czulda http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5885-818X
Notes
1 For the history of Iranian armed forces, see also: R.S.N. Singh, Asian Strategic and Military Perspective (New Delhi: Lancer Publishers & Distributors, 2005), 91–106.
2 For instance, in 2015 an Iranian-American journalist Jason Rezaian – who then served as Tehran bureau chief of “The Washington Post” – was sentenced for espionage in Iran. The same reportedly happened to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, detained in Iran since 2016, or Chinese-US Ph.D. student Xiyue Wang. Other examples are Siamak Namazi and Kylie Moore-Gilbert – an Australian-British academic and expert on Islamic studies, charged in Iran for espionage.
3 Rouhollah K. Ramazani, Iran's Revolution. The Search for Consensus (Bloomington: Indiana University Press), 55.
4 See, Shahram Chubin, ‘Arms Procurement in Iran: Ad hoc Decision Making and Ambivalent’, in Military Capacity and the Risk of War. China, India, Pakistan and Iran, ed. E. Arnett (Oxford: Oxford University Press 1997), 228–9.
5 Abbas Qaidaari, ‘Is Iran Becoming a Major Regional Arms Producer’? Al-Monitor, March 24, 2016, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/03/iran-weapons-arms-experts-iraq-syria-lebanon.html.
6 Desmond Ball, ‘Arms Modernization in Asia: An Emerging Complex Arms Race’, in The Global Arms Trade. A Handbook, ed. Andrew T.H. Tan (London-New York: Routledge, 2014), 30–2. The first military-related factory in Iran was opened in 1928 in Parchin. Ulrich Albrecht, ‘Militarised Sub-imperialism: The Case of Iran’, in The World Military Order. The Impact of Military Technology on the Third World, ed. Mary Kaldor and Asborn Eide (Old Woking: Unwin Brothers Limited, 1979), 171; Kaveh Farrokh, Iran at War, 1500–1988, (Oxford-New York: Osprey Publishing, 2011), 267.
7 License was revoked in the 1990s. See: Emanuele Ottolenghi, Iran: The Looming Crisis. Can the West Live with Iran's Nuclear Threat? (London: Profile Books, 2010).
8 Stephanie G. Neuman, ‘Arms Transfer Indigenous Defence Production and Dependency: the Case of Iran’, in The Security of the Persian Gulf, ed. Hossein Amirsadeghi (London-New York: Routledge, 2011), 147.
9 Yezid Sayigh, ‘Arms Production in Iran and Pakistan: The Limits of Self-Reliance’, in Military Capacity and the Risk of War, ed. Arnett, 179.
10 Neuman, ‘Arms Transfer’, 147.
11 Babak Taghvaee, ‘Deception & Corruption in Iran’s Defense Industries’, Kayhan London, January 22, 2017, https://kayhan.london/fa/1395/11/04/deception-corruption-in-irans-defense-industries.
12 Sayigh, ‘Arms Production’, 181.
13 Ball, ‘Arms Modernization’, 35.
14 Parviz Tarikhi, The Iranian Space Endeavor: Ambitions and Reality (New York: Springer 2015), 37–43.
15 ‘Defense Industries Organisation (DIO)’, Iran Watch, March 17, 2010, http://www.iranwatch.org/iranian-entities/defense-industries-organization-dio.
16 Michael Knights, Troubled Waters: Future U.S. Security Assistance in the Persian Gulf (Washington, DC: The Washington Institute, 2006), 62.
17 ‘Iran Unveils New Versions of Zolfaqar, Samsam Tanks’,Al Defaiya, May 2, 2013, http://www.defaiya.com/news/Regional%20News/MENA/2013/02/05/iran-unveils-new-versions-of-zolfaqar-samsam-tanks.
18 ‘Army Unveils 6 Major Achievements’, IRNA, April 16, 2017, http://www.irna.ir/en/News/82494953.
19 ‘Defense Minister: ‘Karrar tank rivals Russia’s T-90’,MEHR News Agency, February 10, 2016, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/114324/Karrar-tank-rivals-Russia-s-T-90; ‘Sakhtar-e Nezaja Hojoumi Mishavad/Tank-e ‘Karar’ Jaygozini Baray-e Kharid-e T90 Az Rousieh’ [The Structure of NEZAJA Will Become Offensive/The ‘Karar’ Tank) Will Replace The Purchase of T90 From Russia], Tasnim News Agency, April 17, 2017, https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/01/28/1381395/ساختار-نزاجا-هجومی-می-شود-تانک-کرار-جایگزینی-برای-خرید-t90-از-روسیه.
20 A confidential source.
21 Tarikhi et al., ‘Iran’s Aerospace Technology’, 190.
22 For example see: David Albright, Paul Brannan, and Andrea Scheel, Iran’s Procurement of U.S. Military Aircraft Parts: Two Case Studies in Illicit Trade (Washington, DC: Institute for Science and International Security), 21 May 2009.
23 Dave Majumdar, ‘Whatever Happened to Iran's Super Stealth Fighter’? The National Interest, April 1, 2016, http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/whatever-happenned-irans-super-stealth-fighter-15654.
24 ‘Iran to Launch New Submarine Soon: Navy Commander’, Press TV, April 11, 2015, http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2015/04/11/405803/New-submarine-to-join-Iran-Navy-soon.
25 ‘Parvandehie Baraye Havapeymahay-e Bedoon-e Sarneshin-e Iran’ (A Portfolio of the Iranian-Made Drones), Asriran, May 22, 2010, http://www.asriran.com/fa/news/116142/پرونده-ای-برای-هواپیماهای-بدون-سرنشین-ایران.
26 Barbara Opall-Rome, ‘Israel Air Force Says Seized Iranian Drone is a Knockoff of US Sentinel’, Defense News, February 12, 2018, https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2018/02/12/israel-air-force-says-seized-iranian-drone-is-a-knockoff-of-us-sentinel.
27 ‘Iran to Unveil Homemade Strategic Radars’, Kayhan, August 29, 2015, http://kayhan.ir/en/news/17721/iran-to-unveil-homemade-strategic-radars.
28 ‘IRGC Deploys Long-Range Ghadir Radar System in Southern Iran’, FARS News Agency, July 4, 2015, http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940413001375.
29 ‘Iran to Unveil Domestically-made Strategic Radars’, Press TV, August 29, 2015, http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2015/08/29/426815/Iran-Esmaili-radar-Bina-Nazir-Talash.
30 Farzin Nadimi, ‘Iran May be Renewing its Interest in Armored Warfare’, The Washington Institute, March 27, 2017, http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/iran-may-be-renewing-its-interest-in-armored-warfare.
31 ‘Iran’s Sadra to Build 4 Ships for Germany’, MEHR News Agency, December 23, 2005, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/14466/Iran-s-Sadra-to-build-4-ships-for-Germany; ‘SADRA to Launch Venezuelan Aframax Tanker on Monday’, World Maritime News, July 20, 2012, https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/61878/sadra-to-launch-venezuelan-aframax-tanker-on-monday; ‘Exmar to Use 10 Iranian Carriers to Ship LNG-Sadra’, World Maritime News, June 19, 2006, https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/3972/httpwww-worldmaritimenews-comarticleshipping3963exmar-to-use-10-iranian-carriers-to-ship-lng-sadra.
32 Ardalan Sayami, ‘1388: Year of Militarization of Iran's Economy’, Payvand, March 23, 2010, http://www.payvand.com/news/10/mar/1213.html; ‘IRGC Says Iran Should Cancel Korean Ship Orders’, The Maritime Executive, December 12, 2016, https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/irgc-says-iran-should-cancel-korean-ship-orders.
33 Franz-Stefan Gady, ‘Will Iran Order 150 New Fighter Jets From China?’ The Diplomat, August 4, 2015, https://thediplomat.com/2015/08/will-iran-order-150-new-fighter-jets-from-china.
34 Abbas Qaidaari, ‘Will Iran Buy French warplanes’? Al-Monitor, August 3, 2015, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/08/iran-france-cooperation-warplanes.html.
35 Qaidaari, ‘Will Iran buy’.
36 ‘Iran’s Defense Minister: Military Exports on Agenda’, Press TV, August 31, 2017, http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2017/08/31/533567/Iran-Amir-Hatami.
37 ‘Namayesh-e Tavanmandihay-e Defaie va Nezami-e Iran dar Namayeshgah-e Baghdad’ (Display of Iran’s Defense and Military Capabilities at the Baghdad Exhibition), IRNA News Agency, March 5, 2016, http://www.irna.ir/fa/News/81990959.
38 ‘Eftetah-e Nameyeshgah-e IPAS-e 2017’ [Opening Ceremony of the IPAS 2017 Exhibition], MEHR News Agency, January 20, 2018, https://www.mehrnews.com/photo/4115932/افتتاح-نمایشگاه-ایپاس-۲۰۱۷. See also: ‘Negahi be Chahardah Dastavard-e Mohemme Sanaye-e Defaee dar Sal-e Hezar-o Seesad-o Navad-o Yek’ [A Quick Look at 14 Defense Industry Achievements in 2013], Mashregh News, March 28, 2013, https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/203460/نگاهی-به-14-دستاورد-مهم-صنایع-دفاعی-در-سال-1391.
39 Hamza Hendawi and Qassim Abdul-Zahra, ‘Iran Has Never Been More Influential in Iraq’, Business Insider, January 12, 2015, http://www.businessinsider.com/iran-has-never-been-more-influential-in-iraq-2015-1.
40 ‘Taslihat-e Irani dar Iraq: az Shaher ta Siyavash’ [Iranian Weapons In Iraq: The Shaher to Siavash], Farhang News, May 23, 2015, http://www.farhangnews.ir/content/125302.
41 Jeremy Binnie, ‘Yemeni Rebels Display UAVs’, Jane’s 360, March 2. 2017, http://www.janes.com/article/68423/yemeni-rebels-display-uavs.
42 Chivers, Schmitt, ‘Arms Seized’.
43 Armin Rosen, ‘This Map Shows How Iranian Weaponry is Making Sudan One of Africa's Most Violent Hotspots’, Business Insider, February 12, 2015, http://www.businessinsider.com/this-maps-shows-how-iranian-weaponry-is-making-it-to-one-of-africas-most-violent-hotspots-2015-2.
44 James Bruce, ‘Iran Claims it is Self-sufficient’, Jane’s Defence Weekly, October 14, 1995, 21.
45 ‘Rounamai as Dastavardha-ye Bozorg va Arzeshmand-e Defaie dar Sal-e Navad-o Shish’ (The Unveiling of Great and Valuable Defence Achivements in 2017), Defa Press, March 15, 2017, http://defapress.ir/fa/news/232237/رونمایی-از-دستاوردهای-بزرگ-و-ارزشمند-دفاعی-در-سال-96.
46 ‘Iran Tey-ye Se Sal-e Akheer Bish as Sad-o Panzdah Now-e Taslihat-e Jadid Tarrahi va Tolid Kardeh Ast’ (Iran has Design and Produced Over 115 New Weapons During the Past Three Years), FARS News Agency, February 6, 2017, http://www.farsnews.com/13951118000895.
47 Gareth Jennings, ‘Iran reveals Saba-248 Domestically Developed Helo’, Jane’s 360, March 8, 2017, http://www.janes.com/article/68555/iran-reveals-saba-248-domestically-developed-helo.
48 Alex Fishman, ‘A Miserable Failure for Iran’s Military Industry’, Ynet News, June 21, 2017, https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4978518,00.html.
49 Taghvaee, ‘Deception & Corruption’.
50 Larkins Dsouza, ‘Meet Owj: Iran’s First Indigenous Fighter Jet Engine’, Defence Aviation, September 12, 2016, https://www.defenceaviation.com/2016/09/meet-owj-irans-first-indigenous-fighter-jet-engine.html.
51 ‘Iran's President Unveils First Indigenous Turbo Jet Engine’, Press TV, August 22, 2016, http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/08/22/481124/Iran-Defense-Industry-Day-Hassan-Rouhani-Owj-turbo-jet-engine-; ‘DM: Iran to Build Heavy Turbojet Engines in 2 Years’, FARS News Agency, September 13, 2016, http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950623001151; ‘Moshakhasat-e Avalin Motor-e Meli-e Tourbojet-e Irani + Avalin Tasavir [Specifications Of The First Iranian National Turbojet Engine + First Images], Iranian Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics, August 9, 2017, http://mod.gov.ir/news/مشخصات-اولین-موتور-ملی-توربوجت-ایرانی-اولین-تصاویر.
52 Richard A. Leyes III and William A. Fleming, The History of North American Small Gas Turbine Aircraft Engines, American (Reston, Virginia: Reston, Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1999), 278.
53 Robert Czulda, ‘T-64/72/80 Main Battle Tank Modernization Solutions’, Military Technology, 11 (2016): 24–6.
54 Gareth Jennings, ‘Iran Shows New Footage of F-313 “stealth fighter”’, Jane’s 360, April 18, 2017, http://www.janes.com/article/69610/iran-shows-new-footage-of-f-313-stealth-fighter.
55 For example, in 2009, a Belgian national pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiracy to illegally smuggle J-85-21 engines to Iran. ‘Arms Dealer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Supply U.S. Fighter Jet Engines to Iran’, Free Republic, November 24, 2009, http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2393274/posts. See also: Rahul Kalvapalle, ‘Canadian-Iranian Who Conspired to Export Weapons to Iran Sentenced to Prison in U.S.’, Global News, December 15, 2017, https://globalnews.ca/news/3920175/canadian-iranian-weapons-sanctions-conspiracy. In 1997 Yezid Sayigh wrote that “technical sophistication of its [Iran’s] products and the level of originality are low. Thus even some of the simpler weapon systems are less effective than they might be, and rely heavily on reverse engineering and simple cannibalisation”. This assessment still seems to be accurate. ‘Arms Production’, 181.