A project to manufacture the first Iranian reconnaissance vessel is in the final stage and the military ship will soon join the Navy’s fleet, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said.
In a radio interview on Monday, Rear Admiral Irani said all systems installed on the homegrown reconnaissance vessel have been manufactured by local experts.
The new reconnaissance vessel can carry two helicopters at the same time and contains a chopper hangar, the commander said.
He also noted that the Iranian military ship, used for reconnaissance and detection, is capable of defending itself in the sea.
“Reconnaissance vessels are usually not deployed to remote operations independently, and are necessarily dispatched to operations with an escorting fleet, including a multi-purpose destroyer,” the general stated.
The Navy chief said the new reconnaissance vessel has been almost launched, its equipment are being installed rapidly, and it will soon join the Navy’s fleet for operations.
In recent years, Iran’s naval forces have increased their presence in international waters to secure naval routes and protect merchant vessels and oil tankers against pirates.
In comments in October 2020, the former Navy chief said Iran’s first homegrown auxiliary ship is capable of sailing around the globe three times without being refueled.
