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Raad-2

Not to be confused with Pakistani air-launched cruise missile Ra'ad-II.
Raad-2 / Thunder-2
Raad-2 in 2018
TypeSelf-propelled howitzer
Place of originIran
Service history
In service1997 - present
Used byIran
Warsnone
Production history
DesignerDefense Industries Organization
DesignedSeptember 1997
Produced1997 - Present
No. builtat least 36[1]
VariantsRaad-2M
Specifications
Mass36 tons
Length6.72 m (without the gun)
Width3.10 m
Height1.66 m (without the turret)
Crew3 (commander, driver and gunner)
Rate of fire5 rounds/min
Effective firing range30 km (19 mi)
Main
armament
155 mm HM44 howitzer
Secondary
armament
12.7 mm HMG
EngineV-8 diesel for Raad-2
5TDF for Raad-2M
840 hp for Raad-2[2]
700 hp for Raad-2M [3]
SuspensionTorsion bar
Operational
range
500 km
Maximum speed 70 km/h (43 mph)

Raad-2 (Persian:رعد-۲ 'Thunder-2')[4] is an Iranian self-propelled howitzer.

Development

In early September 1997, it was reported that Iran had successfully tested a locally built rapid fire mobile field gun known as Raad-2 (Thunder-2).[5]

It uses a turret that has a similar layout to the M109A1 155mm/39-cal self-propelled howitzer.[4] The Iranian Defense Industries Organization claimed that the 155 mm HM44 howitzer manufactured by the Hadid facility of the Iranian Defense Industries Organization had a high firing rate and accuracy.[6] The gun's range was reported as 30 km (19 mi), and it also includes features such as a laser range-finder and a semi-automatic loading system.

The gun looks exactly like 155mm/39-cal M185 gun from M109A1 and is fitted with a double baffle muzzle brake, fume extractor, screw breech mechanism, hydro-pneumatic recuperator and a hydraulic recoil brake. DIO says that the barrel life is around 5,000 rounds.[6]

The vehicle uses a chassis based on the T-72, distinctive due to the cover of the cooling fan on the chassis.[7] The hull is apparently based on the BMP-1.[4]

The Raad-2 is crewed by 5 persons, with the driver stationed at the left with the power pack at the right.[6]

Operators

The Raad-2 is operated by both the Islamic Republic of Iran Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[1]

Variants

  • Raad-2 - basic SPG version with a Russian V12-type V-84MS diesel engine[8]
    • Raad-2M
      Raad-2M - Raad-2 upgraded with a Ukrainian-made 5TDF engine instead of a V-8 Diesel engine.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Galen Wright (2011) Iranian Military Capability 2011 - Ground Forces
  2. ^ "Modlex product: MXF04-000080 Raad 2 - Self Propelled Gun Howitzer". Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  3. ^ "Modlex product: MXF04-000090 Raad 2M - Self Propelled Gun Howitzer". Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  4. ^ a b c "How Did Iran Manage to Reverse-Engineer a U.S. Howitzer with Soviet Features?". 30 June 2020.
  5. ^ Thunder 2
  6. ^ a b c "Iran reveals details on self-propelled howitzer - Jane's Defence News". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2003. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  7. ^ "The Mysterious Origins Of A New North Korean Howitzer". 21st Century Asian Arms Race. 2018-10-26. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  8. ^ a b "Thunder 2".
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