The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy has developed and manufactured two air-launched cruise missiles intended to target and destroy hostile drones and guided missiles, IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri (photo) announced.
“The two indigenous standoff weapons have a range of virtually 4 and 17 kilometers,” Admiral Tangsiri said at a ceremony in the Southwestern city of Arvandkenar, 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Abadan, on Saturday.
He explained that the two new missiles have already been manufactured, and will be unveiled in future, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.
Admiral Tangsiri said that the capabilities of the missiles developed by the IRGC Navy were “peerless in the world”, adding that the AI-powered missiles can precisely strike the designated targets at a distance of up to 2,000 kilometers.
Tangsiri also hailed the IRGC Navy’s progress in manufacturing vessels, and said that the force has already developed the advanced Shahid (Martyr) Soleimani patrol combat warship, Shahid Sayyad Shirazi - named after the late former deputy Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces - and Shahid Bagheri drone aircraft carrier.
Admiral Tangsiri stressed that the homegrown vessels enjoy distinctive endurance features and cruising speed, and can cruise three times faster than their US counterparts.
Meanwhile, the Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani underlined that the Islamic Republic of Iran plans to hold two joint naval exercises with foreign military forces in the Northern tip of the Indian Ocean within the next few months.
“The Iranian Naval Forces will stage a Naval rescue and relief exercise with the Sultanate of Oman, noting that other countries have been also invited to participate in the drill,” the Iranian Navy commander said.
Admiral Irani added that another exercise, known as Marine Security Belt naval war game, will be held later on.
“While the 2023 Marine Security Belt naval war game took in Naval Forces of Iran, China and Russia, this year’s edition will involve more states, including main participants and observers from various continents,” Irani said, adding that the exercise will cover the Northern flanks of the Indian Ocean.
Last year’s maritime drills kicked off on March 15, and ran through March 19. The war game was meant to deepen practical cooperation among the navies of participating countries.
The maritime exercise reportedly involved forces from the marine and airborne units of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy, and flotillas from China and Russia.
Iranian Naval forces, together with their Chinese and Russian counterparts, have held several joint war games in recent years with the purpose of improving the security of international maritime trade, countering piracy and maritime terrorism, exchange of information in naval rescue and relief operations, and exchange of operational and tactical experiences.
