The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy has taken delivery of a number of overhauled military aircraft, swimmer delivery vehicles and a destroyer that have been modernized by the country’s specialists to meet with the world’s state-of-the-art technologies.
The equipment was handed over to Iranian naval forces during a ceremony joined by Deputy Chief of Iranian Army for Coordination Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani and other senior military figures in Iran's southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Sunday.
The arrivals included a Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King anti-submarine warfare helicopter, a turboprop Fokker F27 Friendship aircraft, medium-size British Hovercraft Corporation BH.7, optimized propulsion systems for Alvand destroyer as well as four newly overhauled al-Sabehat-15 swimmer delivery vehicles.
Head of Iran's Navy Industries First Captain Siamak Pourgozazi, said the new engines installed on Alvand destroyer enjoy sophisticated safety and steering systems, and come with new generators as well as saunas and related equipment. They enable the vessel to be sent on long maritime missions.
He added that the indigenous al-Sabehat-15 swimmer delivery vehicles have been repaired and equipped with advanced electro-optical systems.
For his part, Rear Admiral Sayyari underlined the importance of Iranian naval forces’ deployment in the northern tip of the Indian Ocean, stating that their presence will help secure the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca and the strategic Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
He added that Iran has already manufactured Jamaran, Damavand, Sahand, Dena and Taftan destroyers, in addition to Paykan (Arrow), Darfash (Royal staff), Joshan (Armor), Separ (Shield) and Nayzeh (Spear) missile fast attack craft. The Iranian naval forces also have various submarines in their inventory thanks solely to indigenous brawn and brain.
Earlier this month, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy took delivery of 110 domestically-manufactured combat speedboats for maritime operations in Iran’s southern territorial waters.
The speedboats are reportedly highly maneuverable, and are equipped with missile and rocket launchers as well as surveillance and reconnaissance devices.
In comments at the event, the IRGC Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami said Iran's advanced naval vessels have high destructive power to defend the country in terms of range, speed, accuracy.
He said the construction of high-speed IRGC vessels has progressed from rocket launchers to missile launchers.
"These missiles are precision-guided and their range has increased from 10 kilometers to a strategic range that will be announced soon," he said.