TEHRAN -- The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Ground Force unveiled an advanced version of Iran’s domestically developed tank named Karrar for the first time on Wednesday on the third day of massive military exercises.
Karrar, an upgraded version of the T-72m tanks, is furnished with special coatings to withstand heat waves and can hide from heat-seeking missiles. It is also equipped with GPS navigation systems.
The Great Prophet 17 drills kicked off on Monday, covering the coastlines of the southern Iranian provinces of Hormozgan, Bushehr, and Khuzestan.
On Wednesday the IRGC Ground Force’s special units practiced their defensive skills on Lark Island, using new weapons and employing new tactics as they carried out offensive and defensive operations.
Upon receiving intelligence on the hypothetical enemy, they hit its positions with heavy and semi-heavy weapons.
IRGC naval, air and land forces have been conducting joint drills this week, which officials said included the use of indigenous smart bombs, cruise missiles, drones, and ballistic missiles.
IRGC chief Major General Hussein Salami described the drills—named Payambar-e Azam 17, or “The Great Prophet”—as “precise” and as showcasing the “quality, effectiveness and accuracy of the systems”.
The commander of IRGC naval forces, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, told reporters that the exercises were designed to test Iranian defense of islands in the Persian Gulf.
“Today, we conducted an exercise in defending the islands and showed that we will destroy the enemy before approaching the islands,” Tangsiri said. “Our war game was to destroy the enemy before it can reach our shores.”
“The message of this maneuver to our enemies is that we will never allow a country to threaten Iran’s territorial waters, we will definitely blind any enemy who seeks to threaten the country and cut the hands that want to encroach on Iran,” the rear admiral said.
Suicide drones blew up targets on Wednesday which also saw IRGC forces flying various combat and reconnaissance drones over the drill zone. Mohajer-6 drones struck targets with smart Qaem bombs with pinpoint accuracy.
IRGC Ground Force chief Brigadier General Muhammad Pakpour said assault and combat drones in possession of the IRGC are capable of targeting any place and destroying any target.
“Our assault and combat drones can target any spot deemed necessary, in a way that hitting and

detonating any target has become possible with such a tool and after a process in which such aircraft have developed and been equipped.”
The IRGC’s technologies used for electronic warfare have also improved quantitatively and qualitatively, he said.
Gen. Pakpour also said the IRGC’s tactical doctrine has changed and been updated proportional to the new threats.
The ongoing war game covers the coastlines of the southern provinces of Hormozgan, Bushehr and Khuzestan.
The Saberin Special Forces brigade also practiced amphibious warfare tactics. IRGC Ground Force Airborne Division carried out strikes with Cobra, Mil Mi-17 , and Toofun helicopters.
In comments at a press conference on Monday, IRGC deputy commander for operations Brigadier General Abbas Nilforooshan said the new drill is aimed at boosting the preparedness of IRGC combat units.
It has been designed to simulate one of the most sophisticated offense tactics used in hybrid warfare, he added.