Boragh

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.

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)

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

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

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

Operators
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
  1. 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. 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. ""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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