Instead of focusing on developing weapon systems within their capability, it seems Iran would much rather *pretend* to be able to develop more elaborate machines than their technology level allows for.

For instance, we've all heard of the photoshopped images of Iran's Scud missile launches;
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/20.....sile-too-many/

There are many other rants on how lousy their weaponry is, many of which may be found here;
http://beta.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=792288

So, I'll spare you from having to read about those.


However, there are a few new pieces of equipment they possess (or claim to) that are particularly notable.


First, they claim to have a 4th-gen MBT called the "Zulfiqar III", which looks impressive enough --- except that it's never been seen in public, except atop a lowboy trailer, with the turret traversed to the rear;
http://director.io/tanquesyblindado.....ulfiqar_05.jpg

They took a lot of flak over that, and recently they made a concession to their viewers: they traversed the turret forward;
http://gallery.military.ir/albums/u.....s/_DSC0220.jpg

(sarcasm: on)
WOW!!! The Zulfiqar III can really DO that?! That completely validates it as an effective and ***existing*** operational tank! Who knows, maybe one of these years, we'll get to see the gun elevate and depress!
(sarcasm: off)

So for all we know, Zul-faker III could very well be an empty wooden box, with sandbags in the belly to keep it from being blown off the trailer by random gusts of wind.


Second, Iran has recently developed a WIG-type Flying Boat called the "Bavar-2";
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTIoezhRS3g

Though an impressive technical achievement, I can't help but wonder --- what is it FOR, exactly? It's decribed as having "a machine gun and cameras", which is the only weaponry it looks like it could carry. It's WAY too noisy, clumsy, and reliant on a marine operating environment to make an effective FAC or COIN aircraft, and against warships, I have a hard time seeing it serving as more than a manned target aircraft.

I find the Bavar-2 very hard to take seriously for many reasons, which include this...;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriev_A-40

...and this...;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P6M_SeaMaster

...and this;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_F2Y_Sea_Dart

Those were yesteryear's rejects, and they're all WAY more advanced and powerful than the Bavar-2.


Third, Iran's new ultra-fast torpedo, the "Hoot";
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4871078.stm

...which Iran never mentions is not actually THEIR design;
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/.....row/shkval.htm


Finally, Iran is also supposedly developing a 5th (6th?) generation Air Superiority Fighter, called the "Morghe Ashura". Here's some concept art that was released for this design;
http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/.....ranianpws8.jpg

Funny, that new Iranian design looks a lot like...;http://acecombat.wikia.com/wiki/XFA-36A_Game

Take a closer look at the relevant image;
http://danymoldo.tripod.com/sitebui.....xfa36agame.jpg

Seriously, WTF Iran? Did they honestly think nobody would notice that the concept art for their "future fighter" looks almost EXACTLY like the XF/A-36A Game from NAMCO's Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere?! the image even has the same color, texture, and resolution as NAMCO's original, and the model has almost all the same seams, angles, and edges --- it's even pointed in PRECISELY the same direction!


To think people take that country seriously as a military threat...