Iran’s IRGC Navy enhances maritime Arsenal with advanced warships, missiles
The ceremony also marked the induction of other naval assets, including Tareq-class and Ashura-class boats armed with Kowsar missiles.
Iran’s IRGC Navy enhances maritime Arsenal with advanced warships, missiles
In a notable ceremony held at Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy proudly welcomed an advanced warship into its fleet. Named after the late Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was martyred alongside Iran’s General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, the new vessel was unveiled by IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri.
During the ceremony, Rear Admiral Tangsiri provided insights into the warship’s capabilities, highlighting its impressive naval endurance of 14 days and a cruising radius of 2,000 nautical miles with the ability to evade enemy radar detection. Propelled by four advanced engines, the Abu Mahdi warship boasts the capacity to navigate challenging sea conditions, staying afloat under Force Six conditions and conducting missions under Force Five conditions.
Tangsiri emphasized the collaboration with three domestic knowledge-based companies in the vessel’s production, noting that the construction took 15 months. Significantly, he mentioned the IRGC’s capability to manufacture three warships of the same class in less than a year.
The ceremony also marked the induction of other naval assets, including Tareq-class and Ashura-class boats armed with Kowsar missiles. The Kowsar missiles, with a range of 180 kilometers, have been integrated with 3-D radars capable of detecting and neutralizing hostile aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles at high altitudes.
Furthermore, the IRGC Navy received reconnaissance vessels, speedboats, and torpedo-dropping vessels. Rear Admiral Tangsiri highlighted the strategic importance of these additions, enhancing the IRGC Navy’s capabilities for long-range operations.
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This development follows the IRGC Navy’s announcement in November 2020 about plans to deploy a flotilla of military vessels, including its first oceangoing warship, to the northern parts of the Indian Ocean. The oceangoing warship, weighing 4,000 tons and spanning 150 meters, is designed for multipurpose, long-range operations, equipped with missiles, air defense systems, and advanced radars.
The ceremony underscored Iran’s commitment to strengthening its naval capabilities and safeguarding its maritime interests in the region.