DIO Raad-1 (Thunder-1)

2001 MODERN SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY

• 1 History of DIO Raad-1 (Thunder-1)
• 2 DIO Raad-1 (Thunder-1) Specification
  • 2.1 Basic
  • 2.2 Roles
  • 2.3 Dimensions
  • 2.4 Performance
  • 2.5 Performance
  • 2.6 Armor
  • 2.7 Changes

History of DIO Raad-1 (Thunder-1)

Inspired by its decades of use of Soviet equipment, the Iranian defense industry eventually developed an indigenous self-propelled howitzer (SPH), named "Raad-1" - meaning "Thunder 1". The pilot vehicle, which was tested sometime in 1996, is credited to the Defense Industry Organization (DIO), which is involved in the development of other modern armored vehicles for the Iranian military. The vehicle is a fusion of the Soviet 2S1 Gvozdika SPH and the BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) - using the former's artillery system and turret, the latter's hull and landing gear.

Iran produces the "Boragh" armored personnel carrier (APC) (also through DIO), an unlicensed Chinese Type 86 replica based on the Soviet BMP-1, and it is this vehicle that exclusively uses the lower part 1 of the Raad-1 (hull, chassis, crawler system).

When complete, the Raad-1 will be a 19.3 ton vehicle with a crew of three - driver, commander, gunner and loader. It is armed with a 122mm 2A18 howitzer for indirect fire on enemy positions from a distance.

The weapon is housed in a movable and extendable turret, which allows for a largely unobstructed area of ??fire and expands the vehicle's tactical value. It also has a dual-baffle muzzle brake on top and features a center fume exhaust. Most recoil mechanisms are located in powered turrets.

The body size is 6.7 meters long and 3.1 meters wide. The Raad-1 has the same raised fuselage roofline at the rear of the vehicle, creating more interior space for the gunner and ammunition.

This raised the turret above the forward hull, forcing the use of longer barrel clamps, which were used to lock the barrel to the swashplate when in operation. Power comes from a 330hp V-84MS air-cooled V8 diesel engine capable of 65 km/h and a range of up to 500 km. The engine is in the front right and the driver is in the front left. A torsion bar suspension system allows off-road driving. The on-wheel track arrangement consists of six wheels on one side of the hull, with the drive sprocket at the front and the track idler at the rear.

Chain return rollers - three - are covered by side skirt armor. A 12.7mm heavy machine gun is stored on top of the turret for local defense, and the main gun carries a 35?122mm projectile.

The car is believed to be in service with the Iranian army, although the number is unknown. The similar Raad-2 series of SPH vehicles is a 155mm armament development, more in line with the operation and configuration of the famous American M109 155mm armed SPG series.

DIO Raad-1 (Thunder-1) Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

35 x 122mm bullet

550 x 12.7mm ammo

Changes