The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recently received two advanced war catamarans, named “Shahid Sayyad Shirazi” and “Shahid Hassan Bagheri“. The delivery of the ships took place in a ceremony attended by high-ranking military officials.
+ Click here to see the video of the new warships
The ships, capable of reaching speeds of 45 knots, are equipped with missile defense systems. These catamarans represent a significant advancement in the maritime capabilities of the IRGC, standing out both for their speed and firepower.
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Both vessels are the second and third models of the Soleimani class, following the first model, named “Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis”. This first ship was unveiled on January 6 and honors an Iraqi commander of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), who was martyred alongside Iranian Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in a US attack in Baghdad in January 2020.
Measuring 67 meters in length and 20 meters in width, and weighing 600 tons, these IRGC catamarans can accommodate a combat helicopter and three light boats. In addition, the ships possess stealth technology that makes them difficult to detect by radars.
The catamarans are equipped with the advanced “Navvab” missile system, which allows for vertical launches, and the “Sayyad” cruise missile, which has a range of 700 kilometers. Despite their relatively smaller tonnage, comparable to corvettes, these ships have a longer range (5,000 miles) than modern destroyers and firepower and air defense capabilities comparable to frigates.
The innovative design of the catamarans provides greater ease of navigation and transverse stability in adverse sea conditions, setting them apart from conventional catamarans. This development represents a significant step forward for the IRGC and for Iran’s naval capabilities.
Photos and video: Telegram tasnim_military
