I. Executive Summary

This report presents a comprehensive redesign of Iran's military, envisioning a transformation from its current, sanctions-constrained structure to a unified, technologically advanced, and highly integrated defense force. Operating under the hypothetical scenario of no international sanctions, the proposed design prioritizes robust territorial defense across land, air, and marine domains. It strategically leverages cutting-edge global military technologies and modern doctrines while simultaneously enhancing and integrating Iran's existing indigenous capabilities. The overarching objective of this transformation is to achieve decision superiority, multi-domain convergence, and resilient deterrence against any potential aggressor, ensuring the inviolability of Iran's sovereignty and strategic interests.

The redesigned force will be characterized by a sophisticated, multi-layered Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) system, underpinned by a unified, network-centric Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) architecture. It will embrace distributed lethality across all operational domains, deploying specialized formations tailored to Iran's diverse geographical challenges. The procurement strategy will focus on acquiring 5th-generation air assets, advanced armored and artillery systems, and modern naval platforms, including state-of-the-art submarines and unmanned systems. Furthermore, a significant emphasis will be placed on the pervasive integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to optimize decision-making, logistics, and operational effectiveness. This holistic approach aims to cultivate a highly adaptable, lethal, and survivable military, capable of responding effectively to the complexities of modern warfare.

II. Current Military Landscape and Strategic Context

Analysis of Iran's Existing Military Structure, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Iran's armed forces are currently structured with a dual military command, comprising the Islamic Republic of Iran Army (Artesh), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Police Command (Faraja). The Artesh is traditionally responsible for conventional platforms and general military manpower, while the IRGC has a distinct mandate focused on national security, internal and border security, law enforcement, and the development and control of Iran's missile forces. This parallel structure, while historically serving the purpose of regime preservation and internal loyalty, has demonstrably led to structural inefficiencies and redundancies in command, logistics, and military systems across all branches. This inherent duplication of effort represents a significant impediment to achieving the seamless integration and operational coherence characteristic of modern defense forces.

In terms of personnel, Iran commands the largest military in the Middle East, with approximately 610,000 active-duty personnel and an additional 350,000 reserve and trained personnel available for mobilization, bringing the total potential military manpower to about 960,000. This substantial human resource base provides a strong foundation for a large-scale defense, but its effectiveness is constrained by the aforementioned structural issues and the technological limitations of much of its equipment.

A notable strength, born out of necessity due to international sanctions, is Iran's robust domestic rearmament program. The nation has achieved self-sufficiency in the manufacture of helicopters, producing variants like the Shabaviz 2-75 and Shabaviz 206 based on Bell designs, and even claiming the capability to produce U.S. AH-1 Cobra gunships. By the 2000s, Iran had reportedly become an exporter of arms. Significant investment has been channeled into its ambitious ballistic and cruise missile program, which is considered a centerpiece of its deterrence doctrine, and its burgeoning Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) program. These indigenous developments represent areas of considerable expertise and a reduction in foreign dependency.

However, a critical weakness remains the aging nature of much of Iran's military inventory. Its air force fleet, for instance, is "increasingly aging", relying on decades-old Western and Soviet airframes such as the F-4s, F-14s, F-5s, MiG-29s, Su-24s, and J-7s. Similarly, Iran's tank fleet is considered "among the least sophisticated" globally, with over 1000 obsolete M60s, M47/48s, Chieftains, and Type 59s, even with recent modernization packages like the Soleiman-402 for M60s. While indigenous efforts like the Karrar tank exist, they often borrow elements from older foreign designs and are not always produced at scale or comparable to leading global counterparts.

Iran's current air defense capabilities include a range of indigenously produced assets such as the Arman, Bavar-373, Khordad-15, Sayyad-2/3, and Azarakhsh systems, complemented by Russian-sourced S-300s acquired in 2016. Despite these advancements, the vulnerability of certain systems has been observed, with reports of Israeli strikes disabling S-300s in April 2024.

In the naval domain, Iran's Navy has recently taken delivery of new watercraft and overhauled existing vessels, enhancing destroyers and naval drones with advanced systems. The IRGC Navy has also unveiled new stealth catamaran corvettes, such as the Shahid-Soleimani class, and advanced high-speed boats capable of launching missiles while in motion. These naval developments underscore a focus on asymmetrical attacks and Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) operations, particularly within the strategic waters of the Persian Gulf.

Review of Iran's Evolving Military Doctrine and Geopolitical Considerations

Historically, Iranian military doctrine was profoundly shaped by the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), which cemented a focus on proxy warfare, asymmetric warfare (especially in naval defense), and ballistic missiles.5 This approach was a pragmatic response to confronting militarily superior foes and served to project the ideology of the Islamic Revolution through the support of regional proxy groups like Hezbollah.

However, a significant doctrinal evolution is underway. There is a discernible "shift in focus to the manufacturing and development of low-cost, native military technology" aimed at reinforcing "conventional fighting forces and methods". This emerging "hybrid strategy" seeks to bolster Iran's coercive influence by supplementing its unconventional forces with a more robust conventional backbone, particularly in anticipation of potential conventional conflicts, such as with Israel.

The ballistic and cruise missile program remains the "centerpiece of its deterrence and broader military doctrine". Iran explicitly employs a strategy of "retaliatory deterrence," threatening adversaries with missile, terrorist, or cyber attacks to prevent or de-escalate conflict. This indicates a strategic intent to leverage a diverse set of capabilities for dissuasion.

Geopolitically, Iran has engaged in "limited technology cooperation with Russia and China". This reflects a pragmatic alignment within an increasingly multipolar world, seeking to acquire and integrate foreign military thinking and technologies, which are then often "Iranianized" to suit domestic requirements and capabilities.

Geographic and Environmental Factors Influencing Defense Strategy

Iran's diverse geography presents unique challenges and opportunities for its defense strategy, encompassing extensive coastlines, vast desert expanses, and significant mountainous regions. Effective territorial defense necessitates specialized adaptations for each environment.

• Desert Operations: Warfare in arid regions demands "special equipment, special training and acclimatization, and a high degree of self-discipline". Observation is often excellent due to open terrain, but concealment can be difficult, which paradoxically makes modern precision weapons more effective. Key terrain features in the desert include roads, desert tracks, crossroads, and vital water sources, control of which is critical for military operations and maintaining lines of communication (LOCs). Narrow valleys, while offering cover and camouflage, pose significant dangers from flash floods after rains. Certain surfaces like lava beds or salt marshes can severely restrict vehicular movement, making prior reconnaissance critical, especially for heavy tracked vehicles like tanks.

• Mountain Warfare: Mountainous terrain inherently "restricts movement, delays timely responses, and produces canalizing effects" due to steep slopes and watercourses.16 Such terrain generally favors the defender and forces intimately familiar with the local environment.16 Movement, reinforcement, and medical evacuation in these arduous conditions require "enormous exertion of energy". Training for mountain warfare is exceptionally arduous and is typically the preserve of elite units due to its expense and specialized nature. The environment can degrade or eliminate the effectiveness of technological assets such as helicopters, ISR platforms, communications equipment, and wheeled/tracked vehicles.

• Coastal Defense: Protecting Iran's extensive coastlines and critical maritime infrastructure, including ports, is vital for national security and maintaining the navigability of sea lanes. Modern naval combat poses threats from high-speed airborne cruise missiles and increasingly stealthy submarines. Coastal defense measures must counteract naval offenses, including naval artillery and amphibious forces. The strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical choke point, further amplifies the need for robust coastal and naval defense capabilities.

Foundational Implications for a Modern Military Design

The explicit premise of a sanctions-free environment fundamentally alters Iran's strategic options and procurement capabilities. Previously, Iran's "robust domestic rearmament program" and "increasingly indigenous" inventory were a direct consequence of being "unable to import weapon systems from abroad". This forced self-sufficiency, while fostering domestic expertise, also meant reliance on older designs or less advanced technology, as evidenced by an "aging air force" and tanks "not expected to provide comparable capabilities" to modern global standards. The absence of sanctions allows Iran to strategically acquire top-tier military technology from the global market, enabling a rapid leapfrogging of technological generations. This shifts the emphasis from survival through self-reliance to strategic modernization through optimal global procurement and integration. The purpose of indigenous production can now evolve from necessity to a strategic advantage, specializing in areas where Iran already possesses significant expertise, such as advanced drone and missile technology, or focusing on sustainment and localization of foreign systems.

The current dual military structure of the Artesh and IRGC, explicitly identified as leading to "structural inefficiencies, with redundancies in command, logistics, and military systems", represents a significant impediment to a modern, integrated defense. In a sanctions-free context, the historical rationale for this dual structure—primarily regime preservation and internal loyalty, becomes less critical than achieving optimal operational efficiency and interoperability. The existing redundancies waste valuable resources (manpower, budget, equipment) that could be more effectively allocated to advanced systems and integrated training. A fundamental redesign must address this structural flaw, potentially through significant consolidation or, at minimum, a radical integration of command, control, and logistics functions. This would unlock substantial efficiency and combat effectiveness, paving the way for a truly unified and modern military.

Furthermore, Iran's evolving military doctrine, which has already begun to shift from a purely asymmetric focus towards reinforcing conventional capabilities and adopting a "hybrid strategy", is now fully enabled by the removal of sanctions. Hybrid warfare, characterized by combining conventional and irregular methods, clandestine actions, advanced weapons, and information operations, can now be fully operationalized. The ability to acquire sophisticated weapon systems and technologies previously denied will allow Iran to seamlessly integrate its proven asymmetric strengths (missiles, drones, proxy support) with newly acquired conventional power. This means the new military design will not merely be about acquiring advanced conventional gear, but about

how that gear is employed in conjunction with existing asymmetric capabilities. The military must be structured and trained to operate fluidly across the entire spectrum of conflict, from overt conventional engagements to covert cyber and proxy operations, effectively blurring the lines between war and peace to achieve strategic objectives. This necessitates significant investment in intelligence, cyber capabilities, and specialized forces, alongside conventional modernization.

III. Foundational Principles for a Modern Defense Force

A modern Iranian military, unburdened by sanctions, must be built upon several interconnected foundational principles to ensure comprehensive territorial defense and effective deterrence. These principles reflect contemporary military thought and leverage technological advancements to create a highly capable and adaptable force.

Integrated Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)

Multi-Domain Operations represent a pivotal shift in military strategy, moving beyond traditional single-domain approaches to emphasize the "combined arms employment of joint and Army capabilities to create and exploit relative advantages" across all domains. The core concept of MDO involves orchestrating and synchronizing military activities with non-military activities, spanning the Maritime, Land, Air, Space, and Cyberspace domains. The objective is to deliver "converging effects" against an adversary by integrating actions across these domains.24 This means that simply operating in multiple domains (e.g., jamming a radio, hacking a computer, and shooting artillery simultaneously) is insufficient; true MDO requires these effects to be integrated to target a specific system or decision-maker.

For Iran, MDO would enable a truly comprehensive defense by breaking down the existing structural silos of its dual military system, allowing for a unified approach to combat. This is crucial for countering robust Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) structures that potential adversaries might employ. By integrating capabilities, Iran can achieve "decision dominance," enabling its forces to sense, understand, decide, and act faster and more effectively than an adversary. Implementing MDO demands a radical shift in mindset, moving beyond conventional camouflage to masking military signatures across all domains. It also necessitates robust interoperability across all military services and with any potential international partners, ensuring seamless coordination and information sharing.

Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD)

Integrated Air and Missile Defense is an "essential and continuous mission" crucial for safeguarding national "territory, populations and forces against any air or missile threat or attack". It mandates a "360-degree approach" to counter a "full spectrum of air and missile threats," ranging from small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to advanced cruise and ballistic missiles, including hypersonic weapons.

IAMD is implemented through a sophisticated "network of interconnected national and NATO systems comprised of sensors, command and control assets, and weapons systems". Its functional areas include Air Surveillance, Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications, and Information (BMC3I), Active Air and Missile Defense, and Passive Air and Missile Defense. A critical aspect is interoperability, which ensures the seamless integration and coordination of diverse air and missile defense systems and their command structures through standardized doctrines, procedures, and communication protocols.

Given Iran's existing advanced missile capabilities and the demonstrated vulnerabilities of its current air defense assets, such as the S-300s 3, a robust IAMD system is paramount. This would involve a strategic integration of Iran's indigenous missile and air defense systems (e.g., Arman, Bavar-373, Khordad-15, Sayyad-2/3, Azarakhsh) with globally procured advanced systems. The US Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS), which aims to "connect any sensor to any shooter" , provides a valuable model for fusing data from diverse ground, air, and space sensors to direct various weapon systems effectively. The integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning capabilities would be crucial for enhancing "surveillance data fusion and analysis," providing a coherent and accurate picture of the battlespace.

Network-Centric Warfare (NCW) & C4ISR

Network-Centric Warfare is fundamental to modern military effectiveness, focusing on "getting the right information, faster, to the right forces" to enable "the right action, faster, against the right objective". The primary aim is to shorten the "kill chain"—the cycle of detection, decision, attack, and assessment. A "robustly networked force" significantly improves information sharing, which in turn "enhances the quality of information and shared situational awareness," leading to improved "collaboration and self-synchronization," and ultimately "dramatically increase mission effectiveness".

The backbone of NCW is C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance). This integrated technological framework "enables modern military forces to operate effectively" by allowing commanders to understand the battlespace, make informed decisions, direct forces, and assess outcomes, thereby achieving "decision dominance".

Implementing NCW and C4ISR presents several challenges, including managing bandwidth limitations, ensuring secure communications (especially for mobile systems in dynamic environments), overcoming GPS limitations in specific terrains (e.g., urban canyons, caves), and achieving seamless interoperability between disparate systems. Solutions to these challenges involve developing resilient and secure communication networks (e.g., robust encryption, frequency hopping, mesh networking), leveraging cloud and edge computing for faster data analysis at the tactical level, and implementing advanced sensor fusion techniques, often powered by AI, to correlate diverse inputs and provide a richer, more accurate understanding of the battlespace. Furthermore, cybersecurity must be a foundational element, built into system design rather than added as an afterthought. Extending C4ISR capabilities down to the individual warfighter through wearable devices and local sensor inputs enhances granular command and control and improves overall situational awareness.

Distributed Lethality

Originally a naval concept, distributed lethality explores how "dispersing forces would enhance warfighting" by increasing the number of offensive nodes and complicating an adversary's targeting calculus. It advocates for breaking up traditional large, centralized formations into "smaller hunter-killer offensive surface action groups". The primary goal is to "confound adversary locating and targeting while introducing a threat to their sea control ambitions".

While primarily applied to naval forces, the principles of distributed lethality are highly applicable across land and air domains, particularly in the context of multi-domain operations and countering A2/AD strategies. It emphasizes empowering subordinate commanders with "delegated C2" and the ability to "find, target, and kill without off-ship support". This decentralization, as demonstrated by historical examples like the Battle of Trafalgar, fosters flexibility and initiative, preventing paralysis that can occur with overly centralized command structures.

Distributed lethality enhances deterrence by influencing an adversary's psychology, not solely through the threat of overwhelming force, but by "degrading an adversary's confidence in their weapons" and complicating their operational planning. This approach encourages adding "more firepower to the fleet," even by "equipping logistics vessels with missiles" , thereby increasing the number of potential targets an adversary must track and engage.

Hybrid Warfare Defense

Hybrid warfare involves "diverse and dynamic combinations of conventional, irregular, terrorist and criminal capabilities". It employs "propaganda, deception, sabotage and other non-military tactics" to deliberately blur the lines between war and peace, aiming to destabilize and undermine societies. The adversary in hybrid warfare is often "non-standard, complex, and fluid," potentially involving state and non-state actors, including proxies.

Given Iran's existing doctrine, which already incorporates asymmetric warfare and proxy support, a modern defense strategy must formalize and significantly enhance its capabilities to both counter and employ hybrid threats. This requires developing flexible and quick responses, leveraging advanced weapons systems (now procurable without sanctions), and effectively utilizing mass communication for propaganda and influence operations.

Key elements for countering hybrid threats include strengthening national resilience, improving intelligence gathering on hybrid activities, and adopting a comprehensive "prepare, deter, defend" strategy. This involves increasing the readiness and preparedness of forces, strengthening decision-making processes, and expanding the military's "toolbox" to include both kinetic and non-kinetic means, such as advanced cyber warfare capabilities and information operations.

Interconnectedness of Modern Doctrines and Sanctions-Free Acceleration

These foundational principles—MDO, IAMD, NCW, Distributed Lethality, and Hybrid Warfare Defense—are not isolated concepts but are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Network-Centric Warfare, with its emphasis on seamless information flow and robust C4ISR, serves as the critical enabler for effective Multi-Domain Operations and Integrated Air and Missile Defense. Distributed Lethality, as a tactical and operational approach, thrives on the information advantages provided by NCW and contributes directly to MDO by creating dilemmas for adversaries through dispersed, multi-faceted threats.

A truly modern military design for Iran cannot adopt these doctrines in isolation; their effectiveness is maximized when implemented synergistically. For instance, MDO's concept of "convergence"—the concerted employment of capabilities from multiple domains—relies fundamentally on a "robustly networked force" enabled by NCW and the "seamless integration" of IAMD sensors and effectors. Similarly, Distributed Lethality, particularly in the naval domain, requires "assured C2" and "delegated C2" to empower dispersed units, which are core tenets of network-centricity. This inherent synergy dictates that investment in one area, such as advanced sensors, must be coupled with corresponding investment in the networking, processing (including AI/ML), and command capabilities to fully realize its potential across all domains. This holistic approach is essential for achieving "decision dominance" and developing "tailored options" for both deterrence and defense.

The absence of sanctions acts as a powerful accelerant for the implementation of these advanced doctrines. Many modern military concepts rely heavily on access to cutting-edge technology, interoperability standards, and sophisticated C4ISR systems. Iran's historical inability to import such systems due to sanctions significantly limited its capacity to fully embrace and operationalize these doctrines.1 With sanctions lifted, Iran can now directly procure and integrate systems that meet or exceed "NATO standards" 39 from leading global manufacturers. This allows Iran to bypass intermediate technological steps and rapidly acquire and integrate 5th-generation fighters, advanced Main Battle Tanks, sophisticated naval platforms, and cutting-edge C4ISR, which are all prerequisites for achieving true MDO, IAMD, and NCW. This also opens unprecedented opportunities for international training, joint exercises, and technological collaboration that were previously restricted, further accelerating the transformation process.

IV. Redesigned Force Structure and Formations

A total redesign of Iran's military necessitates a fundamental restructuring of its force formations to align with the principles of Multi-Domain Operations, Network-Centric Warfare, and Hybrid Warfare Defense. This involves streamlining command, optimizing personnel, and tailoring forces for Iran's diverse operational environments.

Unified Command and Control

The current dual military structure, with its inherent "structural inefficiencies" and "redundancies" between the Artesh and IRGC, must be reformed. To achieve the seamless integration required for modern warfare, a unified strategic command under the Supreme Leader is essential. This would involve:

• Supreme Armed Forces Command: A single, overarching body responsible for centralized strategic planning, top-level resource allocation, and overall command of all military forces.

• Joint Chiefs of Staff: A unified inter-service body responsible for developing joint doctrine, coordinating operational planning across all domains, and ensuring interoperability.

• Artesh (Conventional Defense Force): Re-designated and optimized to focus primarily on traditional territorial defense, large-scale conventional operations, and maintaining a highly professional standing army, air force, and navy for overt engagements. Its mission would be to deter and defeat conventional aggression.

• IRGC (Strategic and Special Operations Force): Re-tasked to leverage its existing strengths and focus on strategic deterrence (including the ballistic and cruise missile programs and advanced UAV development), unconventional warfare (through the Quds Force), internal security (through the Basij), and specialized asymmetric naval operations, particularly for control and denial in strategic waterways like the Strait of Hormuz. This clear delineation of roles, under a unified strategic command, eliminates overlap and maximizes the effectiveness of each force's unique capabilities.

This restructuring is crucial for establishing a "common operational picture" and enabling "seamless integration" across all domains. By centralizing strategic direction while delegating operational and tactical execution, the military can achieve greater agility and responsiveness. This unified approach is not merely an administrative change; it is a strategic imperative for enabling complex hybrid warfare, where the conventional and irregular arms of the military must act in concert to present a multifaceted threat to adversaries. The Artesh would handle overt conventional aspects, while the IRGC would be optimized for irregular, clandestine, and influence operations, allowing Iran to maintain plausible deniability for certain actions while projecting conventional power. This necessitates robust intelligence fusion and information warfare capabilities to manage narratives and exploit vulnerabilities in the "indigenous population" and "international community" battlefields of hybrid warfare.

Optimized Personnel Allocatio

With a substantial total personnel strength of 960,000, the focus should shift from sheer numbers to optimizing quality and specialized expertise. This involves:

• Emphasis on Specialized Training: Significant investment in training highly skilled personnel for operating advanced systems, conducting cyber warfare, integrating AI/ML technologies, and managing complex C4ISR operations. This includes rigorous, specialized training programs tailored for operations in desert environments, which require unique equipment and acclimatization, and for mountain warfare, which demands elite, physically capable troops and decentralized command structures.

• Integration of Women: Continuing the process of allowing women to enlist in the military can significantly expand the talent pool, particularly for technical, administrative, and support roles that do not require front-line combat, thereby optimizing overall force utilization.

Land Forces Formation

The land forces must be highly adaptable to Iran's diverse terrain. A modular, division-centric model, as adopted by modern militaries, would allow for flexible task organization and combined arms maneuver.

• Desert Warfare Units: Specialized brigades equipped with vehicles optimized for high mobility across sandy and rocky plateau deserts. These units would feature enhanced night vision capabilities and long-range anti-tank systems to exploit the excellent observation conditions in desert environments. A critical focus would be on protecting lines of communication and vital water sources, which are often key terrain in desert warfare.

• Mountain Warfare Units: Comprising elite, highly trained mountain infantry units capable of decentralized mission command and operations. These units would leverage the terrain for defensive positions and ambush tactics. They would be equipped with light, mobile systems, specialized ISR platforms, and advanced communication equipment designed to function in degraded environments. Training for these units would be conducted rigorously in actual mountainous terrain to ensure proficiency in high-elevation tactics and cold-weather survival.

• Urban/Combined Arms Units: Mechanized and armored elements specifically designed and trained for urban combat, integrating infantry, engineers, and close air support. These units would benefit from drone-enabled maneuver warfare tactics, utilizing mobile land-based drone carriers at battalion and company levels for persistent reconnaissance and saturation attacks, allowing advancing units to maintain momentum and adapt in real-time.

Air Forces Formation

The Air Force requires a significant modernization to move beyond its aging fleet and establish robust capabilities for air superiority, multirole operations, and strategic reach.

• 5th-Generation Fighter Wings: These would form the core of the combat air arm, composed of advanced multirole fighters such as the F-35 Lightning II (known for its stealth, networking, sensors, and air defense penetration capabilities), the Chengdu J-20 (optimized for air superiority and long-range engagements), or the Sukhoi Su-57 (emphasizing stealth, maneuverability, and supercruise). These aircraft would be supplemented by upgraded 4.5-generation platforms to ensure numerical strength and operational flexibility. The indigenous HESA Kowsar, a redesigned F-5, could be retained primarily for advanced pilot training.6

• ISR and Electronic Warfare (EW) Squadrons: Equipped with cutting-edge reconnaissance platforms, including Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft (e.g., E-3A) and extensive investment in space-based ISR capabilities (e.g., following the "Aquila" concept of virtual satellite constellations). Dedicated EW aircraft would provide comprehensive battlespace awareness and disrupt enemy command and control (C2) and sensor networks, crucial for multi-domain operations.

• Strategic Transport and Refueling Wings: Essential for projecting power and sustaining operations over extended distances. This would include strategic airlift capabilities provided by aircraft like the Airbus A400M Atlas (noted for its large cargo capacity and ability to transport heavy material handling equipment) 49 and additional Ilyushin Il-76s. Air-to-air refueling tankers, such as the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), are vital for extending the range and endurance of combat aircraft.

• UAV/Drone Command: A dedicated command, potentially integrated within the IRGC Aerospace Force given its existing expertise, would manage and operate a large, diverse fleet of advanced UAVs. This fleet would be utilized for persistent reconnaissance, precision strike, and swarming tactics, including the development of manned-unmanned teaming capabilities.

Naval Forces Formation

A balanced naval force is required to defend Iran's extensive coastline, control its territorial waters, and project influence in the Persian Gulf and beyond. This calls for a combination of blue-water capabilities, robust coastal defense, and refined asymmetric warfare capacities.

• Surface Fleet: Modern frigates, such as the BRP Miguel Malvar class (3200-ton, equipped with Vertical Launch Systems (VLS), Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, 16 VL-MICA, 8 C-Star anti-ship missiles, and GOKDENIZ Close-In Weapon Systems) 50, would form the backbone for multi-role combat, air defense, and anti-ship warfare in blue-water operations. These would be complemented by advanced patrol boats, like the Acero-class (derived from Israeli Shaldag V, some equipped with Spike-NLOS missiles) 50, for coastal security and fast attack operations, emphasizing distributed lethality with smaller, highly capable vessels.

• Submarine Force: A modern submarine fleet is critical for strategic deterrence, sea control, intelligence gathering, and special operations. This would include advanced attack submarines such as the Virginia-class Block V (known for its Virginia Payload Module capable of deploying up to 40 Tomahawk missiles, UUV deployment, and seabed warfare capabilities) 51, or other top-tier options like Russia's Yasen-M, China's Type 095, or South Korea's KSS-III Batch II.51 These submarines offer stealth, long-range strike capabilities, and enhanced intelligence gathering.

• Mine Warfare & Countermeasures: Specialized units equipped with modern mine warfare vessels and advanced Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) such as the ASELSAN DERİNGÖZ (designed for long-endurance operations, underwater surveillance, reconnaissance, mine countermeasures, and coastal protection). Mine warfare remains a cost-effective asymmetric tool for defending territorial waters and denying access to adversaries.

• Naval Aviation: Fully integrated with the surface fleet, including anti-submarine warfare helicopters and shipborne Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for long-range surveillance and targeting, extending the navy's situational awareness and operational reach.

• Integrated Coastal Defense Systems: A layered defense for critical coastal infrastructure and strategic waterways, featuring mobile coastal defense cruise missile systems (with ranges of 300-700km and the ability to fire while in motion) 12, advanced radar systems like the ASELSAN CENK 4D (a 2-axis AESA radar for wide-area surveillance and real-time target tracking), and naval point defense missile systems such as the ASELSAN GÖKSUR VLS (providing AI-assisted firepower against sea-skimming cruise missiles, UAVs, and low-flying fighter jets).

Cross-Domain Capabilities

To ensure a truly integrated and resilient defense, several cross-domain capabilities must be significantly enhanced:

• Enhanced UAV/Drone Fleet: Expanding beyond the current Mohajer and Kaman series, Iran should develop and acquire a large, diverse fleet of advanced reconnaissance, strike, and swarming drones. This includes platforms capable of manned-unmanned teaming and potentially sea-based drone carriers.5 Drones serve as a crucial force multiplier for ISR, precision strike, and overwhelming adversary defenses.

• Advanced Ballistic/Cruise Missiles: Continued investment and development of indigenous ballistic and cruise missile programs are central to Iran's deterrence strategy and mid-range strike capability. Further development of systems like the Qadr-380, with its 1000km range and AI-enabled route adjustment, will enhance precision and survivability.

• Cyber Warfare Capabilities: Significant investment in both offensive and defensive cyber capabilities is paramount. This includes developing sophisticated cyber attack operations and embedding cybersecurity by design into all military systems. Cyber capabilities are essential for disrupting enemy C4ISR, protecting Iran's own networks, and serving as a potent non-kinetic deterrent in hybrid warfare scenarios.

• Integrated C4ISR: A unified C4ISR architecture is the nervous system of the modern military. This system would leverage AI/ML for advanced data fusion, utilize cloud and edge computing for distributed processing, ensure resilient communications, and integrate sensors across all domains. Modeling after systems like the IBCS, which aims to "connect any sensor to any shooter", would provide a common operational picture, enhance situational awareness, and enable rapid decision-making across all military branches.

Proposed Equipment Overview

The following tables summarize key proposed equipment acquisitions and developments, reflecting a shift towards advanced, multi-domain capable platforms available in a sanctions-free environment:

Table 1: Proposed Land Systems Procurement

System Type	Specific Model	Origin	Key Features	Estimated Quantity (Initial Phase)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)	T-14 Armata / Leopard 2A7+ / M1A2 Abrams SEP v3	Russia / Germany / USA	Unmanned turret (Armata), advanced APS, composite armor, 120/125mm smoothbore, AI-targeting (K2), high mobility (70-80 km/h)	200-300
Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)	XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle	USA	30mm cannon, 2nd-gen FLIR, designed for close combat and decisive lethality	300-400
Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH)	MORANA / SRT-enabled 155mm SPH	Czech Republic / Global (SRT)	155mm/52-cal, wheeled 8x8, 41.5km range, MRSI, auto-loading, remote control, quick displacement	100-150
Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV)	RCV-Light, RCV-Medium, RCV-Heavy	USA (NGCV Program)	Unmanned ground vehicles, various weights, for reconnaissance, strike, and support	50-100 (each variant)

The value of this table lies in its concise presentation of the proposed modernization for Iran's land forces. It directly addresses the "new equipment" aspect of the user's query, highlighting the significant technological leap from current obsolete systems to cutting-edge platforms. The inclusion of diverse origins implicitly showcases the advantage of a sanctions-free procurement environment, while the key features quickly convey the enhanced combat capabilities.

Table 2: Proposed Air Systems Procurement

System Type	Specific Model	Origin	Key Features	Estimated Quantity (Initial Phase)
Multirole Fighter (5th-Gen)	F-35 Lightning II / Chengdu J-20 / Sukhoi Su-57	USA / China / Russia	Advanced stealth, networking, sensors, air defense penetration, air superiority, deep strike	75-100
Strategic Transport Aircraft	Airbus A400M Atlas	Europe	Large cargo capacity, ability to transport heavy material handling equipment, crucial for distributed ops	10-15
Advanced ISR Platform	AWACS (e.g., E-3A equivalent) / Space-based ISR (Aquila concept)	Global / Multi-national	Persistent surveillance, comprehensive battlespace awareness, intelligence gathering across all domains	5-8 (AWACS) / Significant investment in satellite access
Very Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AAM)	AIM-174B Gunslinger / AIM-260 JATM	USA	Very long-range (240km+), Mach 3.5, anti-ship/missile capabilities, lofting	500-700
Air-to-Ground Precision Munition (AGM)	SPEAR 3 / Taurus KEPD-350	UK / Germany	Miniature cruise missile (>140km), F-35 compatible, multi-mode navigation; Long-range (500-700km), stealth, GPS-denied navigation	1000-1500

This table offers a clear summary of the proposed air force modernization. It demonstrates the strategic shift towards 5th-generation capabilities and advanced munitions, which are vital for achieving air superiority, conducting deep strikes, and maintaining strategic reach. The inclusion of ISR platforms and transport aircraft highlights the foundational elements necessary for effective multi-domain operations and sustained combat power projection.

Table 3: Proposed Naval Systems Procurement

System Type	Specific Model	Origin	Key Features	Estimated Quantity (Initial Phase)
Guided-Missile Frigate	BRP Miguel Malvar class equivalent	Philippines (Design)	3200-ton, VLS, AESA radar, multi-role combat, air defense, anti-ship missiles	8-12
Advanced Attack Submarine (SSN/SSK)	Virginia-class Block V / Yasen-M / KSS-III Batch II	USA / Russia / South Korea	Strategic deterrence, stealth, long-range cruise missile capacity (40 Tomahawks), UUV deployment, seabed warfare	6-10
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)	ASELSAN DERİNGÖZ equivalent	Türkiye (Design)	Long-endurance, autonomous navigation, underwater surveillance, reconnaissance, mine countermeasures, coastal protection	20-30
Naval Point Defense Missile System (VLS)	ASELSAN GÖKSUR VLS equivalent	Türkiye (Design)	AI-assisted firepower, neutralizes sea-skimming cruise missiles, UAVs, low-flying jets, simultaneous target engagement	Integrated on all new surface combatants
Integrated Coastal Defense System	Mobile Cruise Missile Batteries / CENK 4D Radar	Indigenous / Türkiye (Design)	300-700km range, fire while in motion; 2-axis AESA, wide-area surveillance, real-time target tracking	10-15 batteries / 20-30 radar units

This table synthesizes the naval modernization plan, covering both blue-water and coastal defense requirements. It showcases the integration of advanced surface, subsurface, and unmanned capabilities, reflecting a modern naval strategy focused on both conventional and asymmetric deterrence. The inclusion of AUVs and advanced coastal defense systems highlights the emphasis on defending Iran's unique littoral environment.

The value of these tables is in condensing complex procurement information into an easily digestible format. For high-level decision-makers, they offer a quick reference to the scale and nature of the proposed technological leap. They also implicitly demonstrate the advantage of a sanctions-free environment by listing diverse, high-end global suppliers, showcasing a departure from previous limitations.

V. Support Infrastructure and Enablers

The effectiveness of a modern military extends beyond its combat platforms and formations; it critically depends on robust support infrastructure and advanced enablers. Without these, even the most sophisticated equipment can be rendered ineffective.

Modern Logistics & Supply Chain Management

Efficient military logistics is paramount for sustaining operations, ensuring that forces receive the necessary materiel, personnel transport, and services when and where needed. The challenges in modern military supply chain management are significant, encompassing the complexity of global supply networks, the imperative for resilience in conflict zones, and the delicate balance between security and efficiency.

Key strategies for building a resilient and efficient logistical system include diversifying supply chains to reduce dependence on single suppliers or routes, developing comprehensive contingency plans to respond to disruptions, and investing in robust security measures such as convoy protection and supply depot security.

Technology integration is crucial for this modernization. Implementing advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) can significantly improve demand forecasting, optimize supply chains, and enhance visibility of goods and services. Blockchain technology offers benefits in improving the security and transparency of supply chain transactions, increasing trust among partners. Real-time tracking and monitoring systems are essential for creating agile and responsive supply chains that can quickly adapt to changing circumstances. Ultimately, logistics must be seamlessly integrated with the overall military strategy, ensuring that logistical capabilities are precisely aligned with military requirements and operational plans.

Advanced Maintenance & Readiness

Maintaining a high state of readiness for complex, high-tech military equipment is critical for mission success. This requires a shift towards modern maintenance practices that prioritize speed, precision, and tactical readiness.

Best practices include transitioning from time-based to condition-based maintenance, implementing in-service equipment monitoring, and meticulously recording equipment failure incidents. This data-driven approach allows maintenance work to be performed only when truly needed, optimizing resources and increasing the consistent availability of critical assets.

Investment in advanced field repair capabilities is essential. This means acquiring portable, modular tools that are lightweight, durable, and integrated with diagnostic features. Examples include specialized runflat changing machines for rapid tire repair in combat zones, tactical diagnostic scanners for quickly identifying electronic and mechanical faults, hydraulic rescue tool kits for damaged components, and portable welding/cutting units for armor and structural repairs. Adopting a "pit-stop" approach, inspired by motorsports, for rapid field repairs involves extensive preparatory work before a vehicle arrives from the field, ensuring the right parts, tools, and personnel are immediately available to address reported damage. This enables repairs to be conducted in the field, often during the same mission, which was previously rare. Accurate and timely information management regarding maintenance tasks is also crucial for optimizing scheduling and work allocation.

Cutting-Edge Training & Simulation

Modern military training must evolve to prepare personnel for the complexities of multi-domain and hybrid warfare. Leveraging Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) offers a highly realistic and cost-effective solution.

VR provides "unmatched realism" for high-stakes scenarios, immersing trainees in dynamic environments that mimic actual conditions, such as urban warfare settings with civilians, extreme environmental challenges, and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) handling. This technology offers significant cost and resource efficiencies by reducing the need for expensive live exercises, cutting down on fuel, aircraft maintenance, and equipment wear-and-tear, while eliminating the physical risks associated with live combat training.

Applications of VR in military training are extensive:

• Combat Simulation and Mission Rehearsal: Realistic engagement scenarios, including nighttime combat with low-visibility challenges.

• Flight and Vehicle Simulations: Highly accurate 3D terrains, simulations of mechanical failures, and UAV operational scenarios for pilots and vehicle operators.

• Medical Training: Lifelike simulations for battlefield medics to practice treating injuries, managing mass casualties, and triaging under fire, even introducing virtual patients with realistic physiological responses.

• Virtual Boot Camps: Providing new recruits with engaging, less intimidating exercises to build foundational skills before transitioning to live training.65

• Situational Awareness and Decision-Making: Immersing personnel in high-stress environments like hostage crises or friendly fire situations to enhance cognitive preparedness and decision-making skills under pressure.

Key features of advanced VR simulations include advanced graphics rendering, haptic feedback systems that simulate physical sensations like weapon recoil and impact, AI-driven decision-making for dynamic scenarios, and networked VR training platforms that allow multiple soldiers to engage in collaborative exercises simultaneously, fostering teamwork, communication, and interoperability across units.66 Performance analysis from these simulations provides detailed insights into individual and team performance, enabling targeted improvements.

Strategic Implications for Sustainment and Human Capital

The ambitious acquisition of cutting-edge global equipment, now possible in a sanctions-free environment, introduces a new strategic imperative: robust domestic sustainment. While the lifting of sanctions removes the immediate barrier to procurement, an over-reliance on foreign suppliers for maintenance, parts, and logistics for a completely new, high-tech military could create a fresh vulnerability. A modern force's effectiveness is intrinsically linked to its ability to be sustained in prolonged operations. This means the "new design" must include a comprehensive strategy for domestic sustainment of newly acquired foreign systems. This implies negotiating comprehensive technology transfer agreements, establishing joint ventures for local production of critical components, and making significant investments in advanced maintenance facilities and training for Iranian personnel to handle complex foreign equipment. This approach not only ensures operational continuity but also strengthens the indigenous industrial base, allowing it to evolve beyond simple reverse-engineering to advanced manufacturing and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities.

Furthermore, the emphasis on advanced technology, including 5th-generation fighters, AI, and Robotic Combat Vehicles, highlights a critical human capital requirement. While technology offers immense advantages, it cannot replace the "less tangible, human aspects of waging war". The most sophisticated systems are only as effective as the personnel who operate, maintain, and command them. This necessitates a profound investment in human capital development, including rigorous, specialized training programs that leverage VR/AR and networked simulations. The goal is to cultivate a force that is not only technologically proficient but also mentally agile, adaptable, and capable of decentralized decision-making in complex, multi-domain environments. This ensures that the technological edge translates into decisive combat power, as human ingenuity and adaptability remain the ultimate force multipliers.

VI. Conclusions and Recommendations

The proposed redesign for Iran's military, operating within a sanctions-free environment, represents a transformative leap from its current state to a highly integrated, technologically advanced, and strategically agile defense force. The analysis reveals that the historical dual military structure, while serving specific past objectives, is a significant impediment to modern operational efficiency and must be unified under a streamlined command to achieve seamless multi-domain operations.

The lifting of sanctions provides an unprecedented opportunity for Iran to rapidly acquire top-tier military technologies from diverse global suppliers, bypassing previous limitations and accelerating modernization. This allows for the procurement of 5th-generation air assets, advanced armored and artillery systems, and sophisticated naval platforms, including cutting-edge submarines and unmanned systems. However, this technological leap must be strategically balanced with robust domestic sustainment capabilities, achieved through technology transfer and local production, to avoid new dependencies.

Crucially, the new military must fully embrace and synergistically integrate modern doctrines such as Multi-Domain Operations, Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Network-Centric Warfare, and Distributed Lethality. These concepts, underpinned by a unified C4ISR architecture and pervasive AI/ML integration, will enable decision superiority, comprehensive battlespace awareness, and the ability to project power and defend territory across all domains. Furthermore, Iran's evolving strategic outlook towards hybrid warfare can be fully realized by optimizing force formations to seamlessly blend conventional and irregular capabilities, presenting a complex and multi-faceted deterrent.

The success of this transformation hinges not only on technological acquisition but also on significant investment in human capital development. This includes specialized training tailored for Iran's diverse geographical challenges (mountains, deserts, littoral zones) and extensive use of advanced simulation technologies like VR/AR to cultivate a highly skilled, adaptable, and decentralized force.

Recommendations:

1. Unified Command Structure: Immediately initiate a phased consolidation of the Artesh and IRGC under a single, unified strategic command. Clearly delineate operational mandates, with the Artesh focusing on conventional territorial defense and the IRGC specializing in strategic deterrence (missile/UAV), unconventional warfare, and asymmetric naval operations. This will eliminate redundancies and foster interoperability.

2. Aggressive Global Procurement & Technology Transfer: Leverage the sanctions-free environment to acquire the most advanced military platforms and systems from leading global manufacturers. Simultaneously, prioritize comprehensive technology transfer agreements and joint ventures to build domestic capabilities for maintenance, repair, and localized production of critical components, ensuring long-term sustainment.

3. Integrated Multi-Domain C4ISR: Invest heavily in developing and implementing a unified, network-centric C4ISR architecture across all branches. This system should integrate sensors, command systems, and effectors across land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains, leveraging AI/ML for data fusion, predictive analysis, and rapid decision-making.

4. Specialized Force Development: Tailor land force formations for Iran's diverse terrain, creating specialized brigades for desert and mountain warfare, equipped with optimized vehicles and training. Develop a naval force capable of both blue-water operations and robust coastal defense, with a strong emphasis on submarines, mine warfare, and advanced unmanned systems.

5. Enhanced Human Capital Development: Establish advanced military training academies and simulation centers utilizing VR/AR technologies. Focus on developing highly skilled personnel in cyber warfare, AI/ML, advanced maintenance, and multi-domain operations, fostering a culture of adaptability, initiative, and decentralized command.

6. Hybrid Warfare Operationalization: Formalize and integrate hybrid warfare strategies into military doctrine and training. Develop capabilities for comprehensive information warfare, cyber operations, and the coordinated use of conventional and irregular forces to achieve strategic objectives and maintain deterrence.

By implementing these recommendations, Iran can fundamentally transform its military into a formidable, modern defense force capable of effectively defending its territory and advancing its strategic interests in the 21st century.