At the beginning of September 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran officially unveiled the latest and most radical version of the M60 tank. Designated by the Iranian Army as the “Soleiman-402,” this new variant of the U.S.-origin armored combat vehicle has undergone extensive modifications by the local defense industry. While further details remain scarce, local sources have confirmed the delivery of at least one unit to the armed forces during an official ceremony held at the end of February.
For decades, Iran has managed to position itself as a key developer of unmanned aerial vehicles and other asymmetric warfare technologies, in an effort to circumvent international sanctions. However, this has not prevented the country from continuing to upgrade its conventional capabilities. The “Soleiman-402” serves as an example of Iran’s domestic expertise in tank modernization, aiming to adapt them to the current challenges of the battlefield.
Broadly speaking, this is a heavily modified version of the U.S.-origin M60 Patton tank, which remains in service with the Iranian Army. The fact that Iran still maintains significant stockpiles of this type of armored vehicle has led to the development of an upgrade program for this main battle tank (MBT), which originally entered service with the U.S. Army in the early 1960s.
As previously noted during its unveiling last September, the M60 “Soleiman-402” incorporates an active protection system arranged similarly to the early versions of the Russian-made Shtora-1 system, which is present on the initial variants of the T-90 used by ground forces. Additionally, enhancements to the frontal armor and turret are evident, the latter featuring a remotely operated weapon station equipped with a 12.7mm machine gun.
Regarding the latest developments in late February, a new equipment delivery ceremony for the Iranian Army was held, during which new Arash-2 and Mohajer-6 unmanned aerial vehicles, Qaem-5 smart bombs, and Fajr-2/Arash 122M guided missiles were provided. However, the event stood out for what appears to be the first delivery of the M60 “Soleiman-402” to the armed forces. Nonetheless, neither local media nor official sources have disclosed the exact number of units delivered.
The recent handover of one or more upgraded M60 tanks could indicate progress in the production of this variant, possibly comprising pre-series units intended for testing and evaluation before full-scale production begins. As of now, more questions than answers remain regarding the “Soleiman-402,” particularly concerning the number of tanks planned for modernization, as well as the exact equipment and systems incorporated into the upgrade.
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