Iraq Unveils Indigenous T-55 Al-Kafil-1 Main Battle Tank
The new Iraqi tank is based on a T-55 MBT, or, more precisely, on a Chinese Type 59, with significant upgrades
Eyal Boguslavsky
| 13/07/2020
Photo: Twitter account of Caesar @Ninja998998 via https://www.armyrecognition.com
Azeridefense.com website quotes a number of sources on Twitter revealing the existence of a new main battle tank manufactured in Iraq designated the T-55 Al-Kafil-1. The fact that the designation ends with "-1" indicates there will be further modifications.
The new Iraqi tank is based on a T-55 MBT, or more precisely, on a Chinese Type 59, with significant upgrades. The turret seems to be completely new, namely smaller. Its shape has been completely modified, and the tank now has both additional and reactive armor, anti-RPG chain protection hanging from the rear, a remotely controlled weapon station armed with a heavy machine gun, and grenade launchers.
The hull has also been modified with reactive armor, new mudguards, and a new rear shape that may indicate additional armor plates or modified armor. More modifications are considered to be likely, mostly in the turret and driver’s compartment. It probably has the same kind of engine and transmission as the model it is based on. As no official technical details are available, no assumptions can made about its capabilities.
The new Iraqi tank is based on a T-55 MBT, or, more precisely, on a Chinese Type 59, with significant upgrades
Photo: Twitter account of Caesar @Ninja998998 via https://www.armyrecognition.com
Azeridefense.com website quotes a number of sources on Twitter revealing the existence of a new main battle tank manufactured in Iraq designated the T-55 Al-Kafil-1. The fact that the designation ends with "-1" indicates there will be further modifications.
The new Iraqi tank is based on a T-55 MBT, or more precisely, on a Chinese Type 59, with significant upgrades. The turret seems to be completely new, namely smaller. Its shape has been completely modified, and the tank now has both additional and reactive armor, anti-RPG chain protection hanging from the rear, a remotely controlled weapon station armed with a heavy machine gun, and grenade launchers.
The hull has also been modified with reactive armor, new mudguards, and a new rear shape that may indicate additional armor plates or modified armor. More modifications are considered to be likely, mostly in the turret and driver’s compartment. It probably has the same kind of engine and transmission as the model it is based on. As no official technical details are available, no assumptions can made about its capabilities.
