Iran kicked off ‘Great Eqtedar 99’ naval wargames as the Iranian Navy received its largest warship, Makran.
The two-day naval drill dubbed Eqtedar (Might) began on Wednesday in the Southeastern region of Makran Coast of the Sea of Oman and the Northern Indian Ocean while a home-grown giant vessel, Makran, was delivered to the Navy, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.
In the first phase of the exercises, the Army’s surface, subsurface and flight units were expanded to the general area of the wargame to continue their specialized exercises according to the specified scenario.
The huge warship Makran is a domestically-manufactured helicopter carrier that can be used for logistical purposes in support of the naval forces’ maritime missions.
The wargame was attended by Chief-of-Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, and other Senior Commanders.
According to Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, Makran can carry seven helicopters and can support the Navy’s missions in farther waters, such as the Northern part of the Indian Ocean, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Red Sea.
The Navy also received a new missile-launching warship dubbed ‘Zereh’ on Wednesday. The warship would enhance the Navy’s combat capabilities in the Southern waters.
‘Zereh’ (Armor in Farsi) missile launcher is one of Iran’s powerful warships with high speed and high ability of maneuver. It is equipped with advanced automatic missiles and artillery.
It is categorized in Iran’s Paykan-class missile-launching warships, every component of which has been manufactured by the Iranian Navy’s experts. The warship has passed all its coastal and maritime tests and is fully prepared to embark on missions.
In a relevant development in November last year, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRCG) Navy received a new home-made ocean-going, helicopter and drone carrying warship named Shahid Roudaki.
The ceremony to deliver Shahid Roudaki warship was attended by a group of Iranian civilians and military officials, including IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami and IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri.
The multifunctional vessel is capable of carrying and providing logistical support to fighter jets, aircraft, drones, missile systems, and radars which are being carried on board.
The 400-ton Shahid Roudaki warship is 150 meters long and 22 meters wide. It is equipped with three-dimensional radars, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles. It can carry helicopters and operational vessels, all of which have been domestically-designed and manufactured.
Addressing the ceremony, Rear Admiral Tangsiri said that the warship has been equipped with different types of indigenized weapons.
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy’s Second Zone General Ramezan Zirahi announced last month that the IRGC’s naval forces will receive a number of ocean-going vessels in the next six months.
“A number of ocean-going vessels for deployment in free waters and oceans are being manufactured and they will join the IRGC Navy by the yearend (Iranian year which ends on March 20),” General Zirahi said.
He underlined the IRGC Navy’s high preparedness to give a crushing response to any possible attack by enemies, saying the IRGC enjoys full intelligence superiority over the region and monitors all moves.
