Iran New Heidar-7 Heydar-7 8x8 armoured APC unveiled by Iranian Defense Industry

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The Iranian defense industry has unveiled a new 8x8 armoured vehicle personnel carrier based on a Soviet-made BTR-60PB , called Heidar-7 or Heydar-7. The BTR-60PB is Soviet-made 8x8 armoured vehicle personnel carrier (APC) which was developed in the late 1950s to replace the BTR-152 6x6 APC and was first seen in public in 1961.

Iran New Heidar 7 Heydar 7 8x8 armoured APC unveiled by Iranian Defense Industry 925 001
The new Iranian-made Heidar-7 8x8 APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier) is fitted with a remotely operated weapon station armed with one 23mm automatic cannon. 

The vehicle was unveiled during a ceremony of the Iranian armed forces attended by the Minister of Defense, on Sunday, September 24, 2017.

The Heidar-7 is based on the chassis of the Soviet-made BTR-60PB which is in service with the Soviet army since 1961. The original turret of the BTR-60PB is removed and replaced with a new remotely operated weapon station armed with a 23mm automatic cannon. The armour of the turret is increased by the use of ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour) mounted all-around the turret.

The 23mm cannon seems to be similar to the Soviet-made ZU-23-2, a towed anti-aircraft twin-barreled automatic cannon, which can be used to engage low-flying targets at a range of 2.5 km as well as armoured vehicles at a range of 2 km.

The Heidar-7 turret can be traversed through a full 360º and is fully stabilized. The turret is controlled from inside of the vehicle with the gunner position located at the front right of the hull, with the driver on its left. The gunner has a single screen offering the capacity to fire with the weapon during day and night and in all-weather conditions.

The hull of the vehicle is similar to the original version of the BTR-60PB that is of all-welded steel armour with the driver and gunner seated at the front of the hull, both have a windscreen in front of them which, when in action, is covered by a flap hinged at the top.

The Heidar-7 is fitted with ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour) all -around the hull of the vehicle, it increase the protection of the vehicle against shaped charge warheads of modern antitank guided missiles (ATGMs).

Iran New Heidar 7 Heydar 7 8x8 armoured APC unveiled by Iranian Defense Industry 925 002
The gunner position is located at the front right of the hull, he can shoot with the 23mm from inside of the vehicle.