Army’s Naval Fleet to Get New Fateh-Class Submarines

Date: 25 April 2023 - 22:39

News ID: ۱۱۴۳۳۲

TEHRAN - Iranian Navy

Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani says two new types of the domestically-designed Fateh (Conqueror)-class submarine will join the force “in the near future.”

Irani made the announcement on Tuesday as he pointed to the Iranian Army’s latest achievements and plans to strengthen the Army’s naval units, saying the Fateh-2 and Fateh-3 submarines would soon be added to the country’s naval fleet.

“We plan to add further equipment to the country’s southern and northern fleet,” the Iranian Navy chief said. “Regarding the addition, we will have plans in the field of surface units as well as in the field of sub-surface units. Also, we will speed up the joining of Fateh-2 and -3 to strengthen our authority in the sub-surface area.”

Touching upon the new features and capabilities of the new Fateh submarines, he added, “Today, they are equipped with dual-purpose and domestically-made torpedoes, and all their launches have been successful.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Irani said the Navy would soon be the bearer of very good news for Iranians about a “unique achievement in history,” which has been achieved by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Navy and will be announced to the media.

The 600-ton Fateh is among semi-heavy submarines and is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry such as torpedoes and naval mines. Fateh is also outfitted with a guided-missile system and an advanced sonic radar system, which can identify enemy vessels. It can operate more than 200 meters below the sea surface for near five weeks.

Iran has so far launched different classes of domestically-built advanced submarines, including Ghadir, Qaem, Nahang, Tareq and Sina.

Iran’s Navy has in recent years also increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers. The Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters.

IRGC at Pinnacle of Its Power

The second-in-command of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi says the elite force has managed to become so powerful that neither the Americans nor the Zionists can hold out against it.

Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said that the IRGC is a unique organization that improved its capabilities in all material and spiritual domains.

“In other words, when material and spiritual capabilities are put together, it creates a power that no evil power, such as that of the Americans and the Zionists, can withstand it,” Fadavi added.

He argued that guarding the Islamic

Revolution cannot be done only militarily, and therefore, the IRGC, as one of its main duties, serves the Iranian people to protect the revolution.

Iran celebrated the anniversary of the IRGC’s establishment on Saturday.

In a tweet on the occasion, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said the IRGC serves as a “powerful arm” that guards the Islamic Republic and its national interests while infuriating the sworn enemies.

“The IRGC is a powerful arm that guards the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran, supports the nation, and protects the country’s national security,” Kan’ani tweeted on Saturday.

The IRGC, also known as the “Sepah”, was established on April 22, 1979 by the founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Khomeini as a paramilitary organization charged with protecting the newborn Islamic Republic. The force closely cooperates with the Iranian Army in the face of foreign threats as manifested during the 8-year war imposed by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on Iran in the 1980s.