Raad-2

Raad-2
Raad-2
	Raad-2 in 2018
Type	Self-propelled howitzer
Place of origin	Iran
Service history
In service	1997–present
Used by	Iran
Production history
Designer	Defense Industries Organization
Designed	September 1997
Produced	1997–present
No. built	at least 36
Variants	Raad-2M
Specifications
Mass	36 tons
Length	6.72 m (without the gun)
Width	3.10 m
Height	1.66 m (without the turret)
Crew	3 (commander, driver and gunner)
Rate of fire	5 rounds/min
Effective firing range	30 km (19 mi)
Main; armament	155 mm HM44 howitzer
Secondary; armament	12.7 mm HMG
Engine	V-8 diesel for Raad-2 ; 5TDF for Raad-2M; 840 hp for Raad-2 ; 700 hp for Raad-2M
Suspension	Torsion bar
Operational; range	500 km
Maximum speed	70 km/h (43 mph)

Raad-2 (Persian:رعد-۲ 'Thunder-2') is an Iranian self-propelled howitzer.

Development

In early September 1997, it was reported that Iran had successfully tested a locally built rapid fire mobile field gun known as Raad-2 (Thunder-2).

It uses a turret that has a similar layout to the M109A1 155mm/39-cal self-propelled howitzer. The Iranian Defense Industries Organization claimed that the 155 mm HM44 howitzer manufactured by the Hadid facility of the Iranian Defense Industries Organization had a high firing rate and accuracy. The gun's range was reported as 30 km (19 mi), and it also includes features such as a laser range-finder and a semi-automatic loading system.

The gun looks exactly like 155mm/39-cal M185 gun from M109A1 and is fitted with a double baffle muzzle brake, fume extractor, screw breech mechanism, hydro-pneumatic recuperator and a hydraulic recoil brake. DIO says that the barrel life is around 5,000 rounds.

The vehicle uses a chassis based on the T-72, distinctive due to the cover of the cooling fan on the chassis. The hull is apparently based on the BMP-1.

The Raad-2 is crewed by 5 persons, with the driver stationed at the left with the power pack at the right.

Operators

The Raad-2 is operated by both the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Ground Forces.

Variants

Raad-2 - basic SPG version with a Russian V12-type V-84MS diesel engine
- Raad-2M
  Raad-2M - Raad-2 upgraded with a Ukrainian-made 5TDF engine instead of a V-8 Diesel engine.

References

1 2 Galen Wright (2011) Iranian Military Capability 2011 - Ground Forces
↑ "Modlex product: MXF04-000080 Raad 2 - Self Propelled Gun Howitzer". {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
↑ "Modlex product: MXF04-000090 Raad 2M - Self Propelled Gun Howitzer". {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
1 2 3 "How Did Iran Manage to Reverse-Engineer a U.S. Howitzer with Soviet Features?". 30 June 2020.
↑ Thunder 2
1 2 3 "Iran reveals details on self-propelled howitzer - Jane's Defence News". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2003. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
↑ "The Mysterious Origins Of A New North Korean Howitzer". 21st Century Asian Arms Race. 2018-10-26. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
1 2 "Thunder 2".

[t-1] 1 2 Galen Wright (2011) Iranian Military Capability 2011 - Ground Forces

[2] "Modlex product: MXF04-000080 Raad 2 - Self Propelled Gun Howitzer". {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

[3] "Modlex product: MXF04-000090 Raad 2M - Self Propelled Gun Howitzer". {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

[NIRAAD2-4] 1 2 3 "How Did Iran Manage to Reverse-Engineer a U.S. Howitzer with Soviet Features?". 30 June 2020.

[5] Thunder 2

[JANE-6] 1 2 3 "Iran reveals details on self-propelled howitzer - Jane's Defence News". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2003. Retrieved 6 June 2022.

[7] "The Mysterious Origins Of A New North Korean Howitzer". 21st Century Asian Arms Race. 2018-10-26. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved 2020-12-03.

[GSRAAD2-8] 1 2 "Thunder 2".