Iran Military Forum

While it is true that Iran is definitely hiding some of it's true capability, it's a mistake to assume a simple linear time scale such as "what they are showing now was developed in the 90s". For instance the Zulfiqar tank was developed in the 90s but it (probably) plays no real role in Iran's armored force. Something like missiles (both ballistic or otherwise) on the other hand are shown as soon as they can be.

Iran also faced a very different strategic situation in the 90s then it does today. Many projects in the 90s never progressed beyond limited trial runs and were focused on a different strategic aim.

We need to think about the political implications of certain weapons. While holding back your hand definitely has it's benefits, these benefits can only really be accrued in the event of an actual war because the ostensible advantage is surprise when you use them.

Other times you want to overplay your hand by brandishing brand new weapons that may not be mass-produced or don't do what they're claimed to be capable of or are still being developed, etc. The effect is to intimidate your enemy and make them wary of attacking you.

Iran is at least as guilty of the latter as they are of the former.

I think the shafagh fighter jet has been built, tested and manufactured but they don't wana announce it until the right time.
Smart move cuz this way the enemy never knows your true capabilities.

But I wonder how far they have gone..

While it is true that Iran is definitely hiding some of it's true capability, it's a mistake to assume a simple linear time scale such as "what they are showing now was developed in the 90s". For instance the Zulfiqar tank was developed in the 90s but it (probably) plays no real role in Iran's armored force. Something like missiles (both ballistic or otherwise) on the other hand are shown as soon as they can be.

Iran also faced a very different strategic situation in the 90s then it does today. Many projects in the 90s never progressed beyond limited trial runs and were focused on a different strategic aim.

We need to think about the political implications of certain weapons. While holding back your hand definitely has it's benefits, these benefits can only really be accrued in the event of an actual war because the ostensible advantage is surprise when you use them.

Other times you want to overplay your hand by brandishing brand new weapons that may not be mass-produced or don't do what they're claimed to be capable of or are still being developed, etc. The effect is to intimidate your enemy and make them wary of attacking you.

Iran is at least as guilty of the latter as they are of the former.

Thanks for the post, it was very convincing ..

Coordination between different systems requires a very sophisticated technology to be effective, and believe me it is not easy. Iran has a weird combination of systems from different manufacturers and that in itself says a lot.

No country in the world would display its true capabilities in any field. There is a reason for this, your enemies can't counter what they don't know. Secrecy is and a surprise factor is a fundamental doctrine of any country's defence.

i think irans biggest secret is, what it can do inside other middle eastern countries when the supreme leader calls to retaliate any attempt of agression against iran.

Sadr army, Hezbollah.. and probably secret ones(venezuela). All attacks co-ordinated and dealt at same time giving a massive blow to coalition forces in the persian gulf.

Irans secret is its hidden power.

Venezuela eh!? I've been reading about Iran having Quds forces outside the Middle East. Places such as South America, east and west Africa, Sri Lanka. Is there any substance to Iran having strike capability in the Comoros islands so that it can hit the american base at Diego Garcia in case of war?

Iran is reported to be building a missile base in venezuela using funds from oil revenues.

If true, why not... america has bases in persian gulf, let them have a taste of there own medicine.

iran couldn't really hit diego garcia this base is in the middle of the indian ocean... the ties between iran and sri lanka certainly do not extend to the use of sri lanka's infrastructure to attack the states, even venezuela denies that a base is being built on their soil. though iran can increasingly defend it's borders, it is difficult to project power in the current situation. yet I agree iran doesn't show everything. these secrets would be more useful in the details than in real achievements. Iran wishes to prove it is autonomous... how it is achieved is the  real question.
<p>anyawy, diego garcia is too far from iran to have any real impact on a war their. though the U.S would use it to refuel and that kind of logistical stuff hitting it is for now out of iraninan power... maybe through the use of kot's of missiles but this place is small...

I disagree. Where there is a will there is a way!
if we study wwII , we see that Japanese had the same problem that Iran would have in the case of war with US, to hit the far distance targets.
So Japanese had come up with Submarine aircraft carrier. The I-400 class submarine, which could carry 3-5aircarft specially design for this sub.
I am not suggesting IRIN should build this sub, but this shows that where there is a WILL there'll be a WAY.

here is another example , i have to say i think they are not showing everything

http://www.defazamini.ir/pages/news-3166

Nasr UAV

Perspolis ,
Welcome to IMF.
This Nasr UAV is just a student projcet not any important thing.

Diago Garcia is about 3500 Km from nearest Iranian territory. Sejil's range is stated to be about 2000 Km. Assuming this is the true stated range (though most analysts dispute this and quote a much longer range), there are ways to increase the range such as reducing the warhead size/weight.

Diago Garcia, in my belief, is soon withing the range of Iranian SSMs if not already!


Catsoo

Gents,

The idea that Iran does not disclose all its military hardware is not new but there is a limit to such ideas for example it is very difficult and mostly impossible to hide a new aircraft that needs a couple of years of aerial trials same for a large naval vessel.

But on the other hand smaller and hidden technologies are normally kept secret for a long time for war purposes or until they are fully operational. Air launched vehicles, small speed boats, radars, jammers, ECMs, ECCMs, targeting systems, avionics and so forth are definitely known as secrets and they are not 'seen' or even if they are seen at some instances one has no way of figuring out its operational capabilities.

The latest Jamaran radar radar could have stayed under cover until its sea tests without anyone knowing. But I guess it was important for Iran to get the word out that Iran does have such technologies and it not bluffing.

Catsoo

Does not show everything, for example the phased array radar exhibited for Khamenei not announced or paraded so far. Or the Ghadr subs were unveiled when already at least three of them was ready.

ghadr subs were known to exist already in  2004 you found out too late.

Well technically the first time Iran "revealed" the Ghadir was in a low-quality video from many years ago that showed two different submarines. One was in the water with a large snorkel visible that we would today immediately identify as the Ghadir. The only submarine was the Nahang under construction. Not sure what year that was, but it was still Iran revealing it to the world. Whether the US or anyone else knew about the transfer of technology between N.Korea and Iran that spawned the Ghadir is anyone's guess. No amatuer observers did but I believe that video predates the days of Google Earth. So whether the US intelligence community knew about it or not we will likely never know.