Boragh

Boragh
TypeArmoured personnel carrier
Place of originIran
Service history
Used bySee Operators
Production history
ManufacturerDefense Industries Organization (Iran)
MIC (Sudan)[1]
Produced1997–present
Specifications
Mass13 tons
Length6.72 m
Width3.10 m
Height1.66 m
Crew3 (+8 passengers)
ArmorWelded rolled steel[2]
Main
armament
12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun (1,000 rounds), 30 mm cannon, 120 mm mortar or a Toophan ATGM launcher
Secondary
armament
unknown
EngineV-8 diesel
330 hp (246 kW)
Power/weight25.4 hp/tonne (18.9 kW/tonne)
Suspensiontorsion bar
Operational
range
550 km
Maximum speed 65 km/h (road)
45 km/h (off-road)

Boragh or Boraq (Persian: نفربر براق) is an Iranian-made armoured personnel carrier. Boragh is believed to be a reverse engineered and upgraded model of the Chinese Type 86 (BMP-1).[3] The upgrades include a reduction in weight, a higher road speed, and stronger armor. The vehicle is fully amphibious and is fitted with an NBC protection system and infra-red night vision equipment.

It was reported in May 2002 that three additional variants are produced by the Vehicle and Equipment Group (VEIG) of the Iranian Defence Industries Organisation (DIO). These are a 120 mm mortar carrier, an ammunition resupply vehicle, and an armoured personnel carrier (APC) fitted with improved armaments.[4]

Description

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Boragh is a tracked APC. Rubber elements on the track are added to prevent damage on paved surfaces.[4] It has a crew of three (driver, commander and gunner).

It can transport up to 8 infantry soldiers. Boragh's main armament consists of the DShK 1938/46 12.7 mm heavy machine gun on a rotatable mount.[5] Some vehicles have the machine gun mount protected all around by an armoured shield.

The vehicle is equipped with an NBC protection system and is capable of laying down a defensive smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust outlet.[6]

The vehicle is named after the Buraq, a winged steed from Islamic mythology.

Boragh mortar carrier

Variants

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Iran

[edit]
  • Boragh – Reverse engineered BMP-1 or Type 86 (WZ-501) converted into an APC. It is very similar to Chinese WZ-503 APC. It has V-8 turbocharged diesel engine which delivers 330 hp (246 kW). It also has road wheels from the US M113 APC. Combat weight was reduced to 13 tonnes. The other upgrades include a higher road speed and stronger armor. Number of passengers was increased from 8 to 12. The 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun (1,000 rounds) serves as a main weapon of the vehicle.[7]
    • Boragh APC with a shield around DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun mount.[7]
    • Boragh converted into an IFV. The armament is mounted in a turret. The primary armament consists of the 2A42 30 mm autocannon stabilized in both planes with a double-belt feed. The secondary armament consists of the PKT 7.62 mm tank machine gun, mounted coaxially with the gun. The vehicle is also armed with a mount for an anti-tank guided missile system.[7] Some were also fitted with the complete turret of the BMP-1, armed with a 73mm smoothbore gun.[8]
    • Boragh armed with 120 mm mortar.
    • Boragh with 1-man turret armed with the Toophan ATGM system.
    • Raad-1 (Thunder-1) – Boragh converted into a self-propelled howitzer fitted with a turret from the 2S1 Gvozdika.[7]
    • Cobra – Concept vehicle for the Boragh armed with 23 mm anti-aircraft gun for use as a fire support vehicle.[7]
    • Boragh converted into an ammunition resupply vehicle.
Different versions of Boragh from the top-left: APC, Anti-air threats, Mortar-carrier and Anti-tank

Sudan

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  • Khatim 1 – Sudanese designation for Boragh.[1]
  • Khatim 2 – Variant of Khatim 1, houses a mortar.[1]

Operators

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Boragh Operators in blue
  •  Iran – Around 40 in service as of 2000 and 2002 and 140 as of 2005 and 2008.[9] 140 in service as of 2023[10]
  •  Sudan – 10 ordered in 2001 from Iran and delivered in 2003.[11] Some domestically assembled.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Military Industry Corporation (MIC) Official Website Archived April 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "DIOMIL" Archived 2007-06-11 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Boragh Armored Personnel Carrier | Military-Today.com". Archived from the original on 2017-02-23. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  4. ^ a b John Pike. "Type 86 WZ501 Infantry Fighting Vehicle". Archived from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Boragh - Specifications". Archived from the original on 2012-11-11.
  6. ^ "Russiafile.com". Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d e ""JED The Military Equipment Directory"". Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  8. ^ Cordesman, Anthony H.; Kleiber, Martin (2007). Iran's Military Forces and Warfighting Capabilities: The Threat in the Northern Gulf. Greenwood. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-313-34612-5.
  9. ^ John Pike. "Iranian Ground Forces Equipment". Archived from the original on 3 March 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  10. ^ The Military Balance, 2023, p.324
  11. ^ "SIPRI Arms Transfers Database". Archived from the original on 5 August 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2014.

Sources

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