Tosan tank
The Tosan (sometimes known as Towsan,[1] meaning "wild horse" or "fury"[2]) is an Iranian light tank. Iran calls it a "Quick Reaction" tank because the tank is said to be capable of rapid response and is built for strategic missions.[3]
| Tosan | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) A (supposedly) Tosan light tank in Army Day, 2013. | |
| Type | Light tank |
| Place of origin |  Iran |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1997–present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Alvis |
| Produced | 1997 |
| No. built | Few made. Actual numbers unknown[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | ~ 8 tonnes |
| Length | 4.9 m |
| Width | 2.2 m |
| Height | 2.1 m |
| Crew | 3 |
| Armour | 12.7 mm |
Main armament | 90 mm gun or 30 mm 2A42 autocannon |
Secondary armament | Toophan |
| Engine | Diesel |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
History
Production started in 1997,[2] but the tank was only produced in small numbers.[1] Colonel Nasser Arab-Beigi, head of the self-sufficiency unit of the IRGC ground forces, announced the mass-production of the Tosan on June 30, 2008, as part of the country's campaign for defense self-sufficiency.[3]
In July 2020, Tosans were deployed to the northwestern borders of Jolfa and Khodaafarin due to escalating tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.[4]
Design
The Tosan's design is based on the British FV101 Scorpion;[5] the tank is fitted with a 90 mm gun, Toophan missile launchers (some were mounted),[6] and improved firing and targeting systems.[7] The tank can drive long distances on its tracks and does not need to be carried on trucks.[2]
Iranian sources reported that the Tosan's front armor is armored against bullets up to 12.7 caliber.[7] It is equipped with a diesel engine.[7]
Variants
- Sayyad - lightweight version of Tosan designed as a "quick reaction" vehicle
- "Tosan 30" - variant armed with 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 autocannon[7]
Operators
- Iran: Used by the Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[8][6]
References
- "Archived copy" (PDF). www.tau.ac.il. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - Globalsecurity "Tosan". 10 July 2008.
- "Pr3ss TV - Iran produces 'Quick Reaction' tanks". July 25, 2008.
- Network, Frontier India News (November 7, 2020). "Iranian armour deployed at northwestern borders of Jolfa and Khodaafarin". Frontier India.
- "Forecast International". www.forecastinternational.com.
- Larson, Caleb (May 12, 2020). "Iran's Miniature Tosan Tank: One of the Smallest on Earth". The National Interest.
- "Tosan Light Tank | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com.
- "Iran is considering to manufacture locally Russian-made T-90S main battle tank under license TASS 11802163 | February 2016 Global Defense Security news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2016 | Archive News year". www.armyrecognition.com.
