Seven domestically upgraded missile-launching vessels joined the navy’s fleet in a ceremony held on Monday at the First Naval Zone in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.
Commander of the Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari and Commander of the Armed Forces Major General Ataollah Salehi attended the ceremony which was held on the occasion of National Navy Day (November 28), the Fars news agency reported.
Sirik, Kalat, Genaveh, Fajr, Shams, Fatah and Noor frigates were the vessels that joined the naval units after being fitted with domestically manufactured surface-to-surface Noor, Qader and Nasr cruise missiles.
It took about six months and 13,000 man-hours to upgrade each vessel, which can used to carry out logistical and reconnaissance operations.
Sayyari said the navy is implementing a plan to equip all its vessels with “indigenous” missiles.
He also said the vessels that were put in service on Monday are able to evade enemy radars due to their small size, a fact that increases “our missile capability.”
In addition, he said that two domestically overhauled anti-submarine helicopters, which have been equipped with torpedo-launching systems, an upgraded helicopter, which has been outfitted with air-to-surface missiles, and an overhauled missile-launching hovercraft were also delivered to the navy.
The Tasnim news agency quoted Salehi as saying during the ceremony that Iran has been able to equip its vessels, submarines and helicopters with various types of advanced missiles and rockets relying on the capabilities of its experts.
He said, “Our message for other countries is peace and friendship.”
Iran says its efforts to improve its defensive capabilities are aimed at increasing the country’s deterrence strength and are not meant to pose any threat to other countries.
Elsewhere, the Armed Forces commander pointed to the missions of the navy’s fleets in international waters and said the naval forces conduct operations in the open seas independently, while most of the countries which have naval presence in the Gulf of Aden are member states of international military pacts.
Over the past few years, more than 30 naval fleets have been dispatched to the open seas, including the Gulf of Aden, to protect the security of Iranian commercial ships and tankers in international waters. The naval forces have also rescued many foreign ships from pirate attacks during their missions.
