TEHRAN -- The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy on Sunday took delivery of a number of overhauled military aircraft, four mini-submarines and a destroyer that have been modernized by the country’s specialists.
They were handed over to Iranian naval forces during a ceremony attended by Deputy Chief of Iranian Army for Coordination Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Iranian Navy chief Rear Admiral Shahram Irani and other senior military figures in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.
They included a Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King anti-submarine warfare helicopter, a turboprop Fokker F27 Friendship aircraft, medium-size British Hovercraft Corporation BH.7, optimized propulsion systems for Alvand destroyer as well as four newly overhauled Al-Sabehat-15 mini-submarines.
Head of Iran’s Navy Industries First Captain Siamak Pourkazazi, said the new engines installed on the Alvand destroyer enjoy sophisticated safety and steering systems, and come with new generators as well as saunas and related equipment. They enable the vessel to be sent on long maritime missions.
The indigenous Al-Sabehat-15 mini-submarines have also been repaired and equipped with advanced electro-optical systems.
In an address to the event, Rear Admiral Sayyari underlined the importance of the Iranian naval forces’ deployment in the northern tip of the Indian Ocean, stating that their presence will help secure the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca and the strategic Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
He said Iran has already manufactured Jamaran, Damavand, Sahand, Dena and Taftan destroyers, in addition to Paykan (Arrow), Darfash (Royal staff), Joshan (Armor), Separ (Shield) and Nayzeh (Spear) missile fast attack craft. The Iranian naval forces also have various submarines in their inventory thanks solely to the indigenous brawn and brain.
Earlier this month, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy took delivery of 110 domestically-manufactured combat speedboats for maritime operations in Iran’s southern territorial waters.
They were described as highly maneuverable, and equipped with missile and rocket launchers as well as surveillance and reconnaissance devices.
In comments at the event, the IRGC Chief Commander Major General Hussein Salami said Iran’s advanced naval vessels have high destructive power to defend the country in terms of range, speed, accuracy.
He said the construction of high-speed IRGC vessels has progressed from rocket launchers to missile launchers.
“These missiles are precision-guided and their range has increased from 10 kilometers to a strategic range that will be announced soon,” he said.