(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) has recently received various types of weapons in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, including the latest Shahid Soleimani-class Catamaran corvette named ‘Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis’.
This corvette is equipped with stealth features to hinder the detection by enemy radars and other reconnaisance systems while operating.
Named after the Deputy Commander of the Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad in 2020 alongside IRGC leader, Lt General Qassem Soleimani.
The Shahid Soleimani-class corvette has a Catamaran design and features stealth capabilities, making it challenging for enemy radar and reconnaissance systems to detect its presence in the waters.
According to Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the Navy Commander of the IRGC, the Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis corvette can stay at sea for 14 days, with an operational radius of up to 2,000 nautical miles.
He issued a warning to Iran’s enemies, emphasizing the IRGC Navy’s significant defensive and offensive capabilities to handle any threats from Western powers.
Due to its unique design, the Catamaran corvette can operate without being detected by enemy radars and monitoring tools, as stated by the IRGC Navy commander.
Alireza mentioned that the development of this Catamaran-concept warship resulted from the collaboration of three domestic parties, showcasing Iran’s capabilities in producing stealth warships.
With the Catamaran design and locally developed propulsion systems, the warship can operate even in Sea State 6 conditions.
The IRGC Navy plans to develop three more Shahid Soleimani-class warships with Catamaran designs this year.
In addition to the Catamaran design, the “Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis” warship is equipped with various weapon systems, including 30mm and 20mm cannons, as well as a 23mm cannon.
It also features anti-ship guided missiles like “Noor,” capable of targeting up to 300km, and long-range cruise missiles with a range of 2,000km.
For air defense, the Shahid Soleimani-class corvette is equipped with a close-range anti-aircraft defense system called “Kosar.”
With long-range cruise missiles, these warships pose a threat to enemy vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea.
Iran introduced its latest stealth warship amid heightened tensions in the region, prompted by Israeli airstrikes targeting IRGC leaders in Syria, Hamas in Beirut, and Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq amidst ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel. — DSA
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