Iran develops heavy machine-gun capable of piercing armoured vehicles

Iran Focus:

Iran has begun production of a heavy machine-gun with armour-piercing bullets, state television reported Tuesday.

Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani said the 12.7-millimetre gun has a range of 2.5 kilometres and is suitable for snipers.

"The United States had protested to a European country about selling the gun (to Iran), while we have already produced it," Shamkhani said. "Today the first consignment of the weapon was delivered."

Television footage showed several guns being tested, one by the minister.

"Now our snipers could target the enemy in their armoured personnel carriers and concrete bunkers," Shamkhani told TV.

The gun weighs 13 kilograms and can be mounted on a vehicle.

Iran has a developing arms industry. It produces the Shahab-3 missile, whose range is capable of reaching Israel and U.S. forces stationed in Saudi Arabia and Turkey. It also produces its own brand of tanks, armoured personnel carriers, missiles and a fighter plane.