<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[The Tactical Hermit]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://hcsblogdotorg.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[The Tactical Hermit]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://hcsblogdotorg.wordpress.com/author/thetacticalhermit/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Know Your Weapons: The &#8220;Toophan&#8221;; The Iranian TOW Missile&nbsp;Knockoff]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p class="graf--p graf-after--p"><img data-attachment-id="16432" data-permalink="https://hcsblogdotorg.wordpress.com/2016/06/18/know-your-weapons-the-toophan-the-iranian-tow-missile-knockoff/toophan/" data-orig-file="https://hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/toophan.jpeg" data-orig-size="1600,1200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Toophan" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/toophan.jpeg?w=300" data-large-file="https://hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/toophan.jpeg?w=1024" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-16432" src="https://hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/toophan.jpeg?w=1024&#038;h=768" alt="Toophan" srcset="https://hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/toophan.jpeg?w=1024&amp;h=768 1024w, https://hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/toophan.jpeg?w=150&amp;h=113 150w, https://hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/toophan.jpeg?w=300&amp;h=225 300w, https://hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/toophan.jpeg?w=768&amp;h=576 768w, https://hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/toophan.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"   /></p>
<p id="a19f" class="graf--p graf-after--p">The CIA program to supply Arab rebels in Syria has made TOW anti-tank guided missiles a nearly ubiquitous sight in media coming from the conflict. But the United States might not be the only country waging a covert war with TOW (or TOW-like) missiles in the Middle East.</p>
<p id="8e70" class="graf--p graf-after--p">Iranian reverse-engineered TOW anti-tank guided missiles, dubbed “Toophan,” have been been sighted headed toward Yemen with additional suspected appearances in Iraq and Syria — all in the hands of Tehran’s allies and proxy groups.</p>
<p id="55ac" class="graf--p graf-after--figure">Iran’s production of reverse-engineered TOW missiles is no great secret. In official news <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/118011.html">outlets</a>, <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMTwnYd8oRU">documentaries</a> and on Iran’s official arms <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20150922024145/http://www.mindexcenter.ir/products-category/rocket-and-missile">export website</a>, the Islamic Republic has touted its production of a series of different Toophan missiles derived from TOW variants.</p>
<p id="72ae" class="graf--p graf-after--p">It has produced at least a handful of different Toophan models, including the Toophan 1 through 3. According to Armament Research Services, the three systems <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://armamentresearch.com/iran-unveils-toophan-3-anti-tank-guided-weapon-at-baghdad-arms-expo/">appear to copy</a> the TOW BGM-71A, BGM-71C and BGM-71F missiles. Iran makes two other variants, dubbed the Toophan-5 and Qaem.</p>
<p id="2f02" class="graf--p graf-after--p">In addition to the basic infantry launch platform, Iran has equipped some of its vehicles to fire the missiles. The basic Safir 4&#215;4 tactical vehicle often appears in <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://gallery.military.ir/albums/userpics/1_%2823%29~0.jpg">military parades</a> equipped with a Toophan launcher.</p>
<p id="8a13" class="graf--p graf-after--p">Iran’s unhelpfully-named <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.uskowioniran.com/2010/05/toofan-attack-helicopters-delivered-to.html">Toufan-2</a> helicopter, based on the Bell Sea Cobra, also appears able to fire Toophan anti-tank missiles.</p>
<p class="graf--p graf-after--p">Read the Remainder at <strong><a href="https://warisboring.com/iranian-tow-missile-knockoffs-spread-to-war-zones-45b9c0ea44e2?mc_cid=3240a76b67&amp;mc_eid=1149a36069#.8b0snqte1">War is Boring</a></strong></p>
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