View source for Rakhsh (armoured personnel carrier)

{{Short description|Iranian military transport vehicle}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name=Rakhsh
|image=2022 Guardian of the Revolution exhibition at Imam Hossein square (04).jpg
|caption=Late version of the Rakhsh APC, 2022
|origin=[[Iran]]
|type=Armoured personnel carrier
|is_vehicle=yes
|manufacturer=[[Defense Industries Organization]]
|wars= [[Second Sudanese Civil War]] <br /> [[War in Darfur]]
|production_date=
|used_by= See ''[[#Operators|Operators]]''
|length=6.06 m
|width=2.40 m
|height=2.43 m
|weight=6.5 tonnes. 7.5 tonnes fully loaded
|suspension=parabolic leaf spring with hydraulic shock absorber
|speed=80&nbsp;km/h (road)
|vehicle_range=
|primary_armament=12.7 mm [[DShK|DShK 1938/46]] heavy machine gun, 30&nbsp;mm cannon or a twin 23 mm anti air cannon.
|secondary_armament=
|armour=Welded steel
|engine=DO 824LFL09 4-cylinder diesel engine
|crew=2 (+8 passengers)
|engine_power=155 hp
|pw_ratio=23.8 hp/tonne<ref name="modlex1">{{cite web|url=http://www.modlex.ir/cgi-bin/store.pl/page=product.html/pid=MXF04-000060 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904200629/http://www.modlex.ir/cgi-bin/store.pl/page=product.html/pid=MXF04-000060 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |title=Modlex product: MXF04-000060 Rakhsh - 4x4 Wheeled APC |publisher=Modlex.ir |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref>
}}
The '''Rakhsh''' is a lightweight [[Iran]]ian 4&nbsp;×&nbsp;4 cross-country [[armoured personnel carrier]] developed and produced by [[Defense Industries Organization|DIO's]] Shahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex and named after [[Rakhsh]], the mythical horse of [[Rostam]] in [[Shahnama]]. It is probably based on a proven 4&nbsp;×&nbsp;4 cross-country chassis present in Iran before and is in service of [[Law enforcement in Iran|Iranian Police]], [[Iranian Army]], [[IRGC]] and [[Sudan]].<ref name="janes1">{{cite web|url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery/DIO-Rakhsh-armoured-personnel-carrier-Iran.html |title=DIO Rakhsh armoured personnel carrier (Iran) - Jane's Armour and Artillery |publisher=Articles.janes.com |date=2012-01-03 |access-date=2012-07-25|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316062855/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery/DIO-Rakhsh-armoured-personnel-carrier-Iran.html|archivedate=2012-03-16}}</ref>
==History==
It was first seen patrolling the Sudanese streets in 2005 before being unveiled by Iran officially in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294412568 |title=Iran reveals Rakhsh APC |date=November 2006 |author=C.F. Foss |via=[[ResearchGate]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/News/2006/November/Military_News_november_2006_UK.htm|title=Information and news about military equipment and army of all countries november year 2006|website=www.armyrecognition.com|accessdate=Oct 19, 2022}}</ref>
Rakhsh was unveiled for the export market, but also entered service in the Iranian police and military.<ref>[https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/305792/%D8%A2%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7-5-%D8%B2%D8%B1%D9%87-%D9%BE%D9%88%D8%B4-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3 Familiarity with some of Iran's armoured equipment (Rakhsh)] mashreghnews.ir, Retrieved 16 August 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.yjc.ir/fa/news/7021904/%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%90-%D8%B1%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A8-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AD-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%88-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B1 Armoured personnel carrier of Rakhsh] yjc.ir, Retrieved 16 August 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.aparat.com/v/s6oJP Armoured personnel carrier of Rakhsh] aparat.com, Retrieved 16 August 2020</ref>  It is believed that about 20 of them are exported to Sudan as a contract signed in 2004. Deliveries started from 2005 and ended in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |title=Trade Registers |publisher=Armstrade.sipri.org |access-date=2012-07-25}}</ref><ref name="janes1"/>
==Design==
[[File:2019 Sacred Defence Week parade (327).jpg|thumb|An early version of Rakhsh APC.]]
The hull is made of welded steel which can protect the occupants from 7.62&nbsp;mm small arms. Driver's is in the frontal left part of the vehicle sided by the commander's. Both of these are protected by bulletproof glasses. In addition, 8 fully equipped troops can be carried by the rear compartment that also has small bulletproof windows and 10 associated firing ports that allows troops to fire their weapons from within the vehicle with some level of protection.
The crew can rapidly enter and leave the vehicle via a door in either side of the hull and twin doors in the hull rear.
It uses a DO 824LFL09 4-cylinder diesel engine with the output of 155&nbsp;hp giving it a high speed of 80&nbsp;km/h on road and excellent off-road mobility.<ref name="modlex1"/>
It comes in some different version. The most basic one has a 12.7&nbsp;mm machine gun attached to the top of the hull with a rotatable mount similar to that of [[Boragh|Boragh APC]]. Other versions are seen with [[ZU-23-2]] 23&nbsp;mm anti air cannons<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131105172644/http://gallery.military.ir/albums/userpics/%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B1_%D8%B1%D8%AE%D8%B4_3~0.jpg Armoured personnel carrier (Rakhsh)] military.ir, Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2012</ref> or a 30&nbsp;mm Autocannon similar to the ones used in Russian [[BMP-2]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131105172640/http://gallery.military.ir/albums/userpics/%D8%B1%D8%AE%D8%B4_10.jpg Rakhsh] military.ir, Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2012</ref>
Standard equipment for the Rakhsh includes a central tyre inflation system that allows the driver to adjust the tyre pressure to suit the terrain being crossed, tyres fitted with run flats, differential locks and a powered winch. As it will be deployed in high ambient temperatures an air conditioning system is fitted as standard.
As the Rakhsh has good cross-country mobility, it can be used for a wide range of battlefield missions as well as a baseline APC.<ref>[https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1398/07/29/2123985/%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B4-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%87%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B2%D9%87-%D9%88-%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A6%DB%8C%D9%87-%D8%AA%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%88-%D8%B1%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B2%D8%B1%D9%87%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7-%D8%B4%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF Familiarity with Iranian Armoured] tasnimnews.com, Retrieved 16 August 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/1003349/%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B2%D8%B1%D9%87%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7-%D8%B4%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3 Get acquainted with Iranian Armoured] mashreghnews.ir, Retrieved 16 August 2020</ref>  It could also be modified for use as an internal security vehicle.
Also there are additional options for buyers such as banks of smoke grenade launchers, NBC system and additional ceramic armour. These are reported to increase the protection against 12.7&nbsp;mm machine guns up to 14.5&nbsp;mm.<ref name="modlex1"/>
==Operators==
[[File:Rakhsh operators.png|thumb|Map of Rakhsh operators in blue]]
<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->
* {{flag|Iran}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mei.edu/sites/default/files/publications/PP3_Saab_IranSaudi.pdf |title=Beyond the proxy powder keg: the specter of war between Saudi Arabia and Iran |first=Bilal Y. |last=Saab |publisher=[[Middle East Institute]] |place=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>
* {{flag|Sudan}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/march_2012_new_army_military_defence_industry/iran_wants_to_increase_exports_arms_military_equipment_to_friendly_neighboring_countries_1103122.html | title=Iran wants to increase exports arms military equipment to friendly neighboring countries 1103122 &#124; March 2012 new army military defence industry &#124; Military army defense industry news year 2012 }}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Modern AFV}}
{{Modern IFV and APC}}
[[Category:Armoured fighting vehicles of Iran]]
[[Category:Wheeled armoured personnel carriers]]
[[Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 2000s]]
[[Category:Armoured personnel carriers of the post–Cold War period]]