Iran has lastly proven a drone taking off and touchdown on – within the latter case with the assistance of arresting gear – the deck of the nation’s uncommon new ‘drone service,’ the Shahid Bagheri. Newly emerged imagery additionally reveals varied drones and crewed helicopters on the flight deck, which has a ski soar on the bow finish, together with the looks of ‘drones’ styled after the notorious Qaher 313. Formally touted as a sea base-like ship, Shahid Bagheri has now been proven launching a small missile boat and is armed itself with cruise missiles together with weapons for self-defense.
The brand new footage and movies of the Shahid Bagheri had been launched round a ceremony earlier at this time marking its formal entry into service with the naval arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The conversion of the ‘service’ from a industrial container ship reportedly began in Might 2022, and it started sea trials in its new configuration in November of final yr.
The imagery from at this time’s ceremony contains footage exhibiting a modified Ababil-3 drone with an arresting hook, which doesn’t seem to retract or in any other case be able to being stowed throughout flight, launching from the Shahid Bagheri‘s 590-foot (180-meter) flight deck. What’s presumably the identical drone is seen in one other clip recovering on the deck by catching an arresting wire with its hook. The Ababil-3 additionally has two small turbojet engines put in, one underneath every wing, which might present useful extra efficiency for operations from a brief flight deck with out the help of a catapult.
One thing like microjet engines (in all probability for check) are put in underneath the Ababil-3 drone wing pylons onboard the IRGCN drone service Shahid Bahman Bagheri through the ceremony at this time. pic.twitter.com/igtzRMsi3x
— Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) February 6, 2025
How everlasting the ‘service’ modifications to the Ababil-3 would possibly really be and whether or not a extra refined design is within the works are unknown. At its core, the Ababil-3 is in any other case a well-established Iranian design in energetic service in Iran, in addition to different operators within the Center East, together with Iranian-backed proxies within the Center East. The drone is able to performing surveillance and reconnaissance missions and using small precision munitions.
Video clips present small distant management plane-esque ‘drones,’ styled on Iran’s Qaher 313 plane taking off and touchdown on Shahid Bagheri‘s deck, as effectively. Bigger drones, or mock-ups thereof, with a design in keeping with the Qaher 313 are additionally seen on the deck. There are unconfirmed experiences that the bigger and smaller sorts are 20 and 60 p.c of the dimensions of the unique Qaher 313, respectively. Each are seen marked JAS-313 and one among them is seen in a clip being lifted as much as the flight deck on an elevator. What precise capabilities they could have are unknown.
2 new drones derived on the Qaher-313 venture had been unveiled
The primary, is a 60% scaled model dubbed JAS-313, which probably serves as an armed strike drone
Probably has some sort of inside bay for smaller missiles/PGMs pic.twitter.com/PDnXdhRtmv
— Iran Protection|نیروهای مسلح جمهوری اسلامی ایران (@IranDefense) February 6, 2025
One other photograph of the Iranian JAS-313 drones onboard the IRGCN drone service Shahid Bahman Bagheri.
Seems like they ran out of the exhaust covers and lined the left one’s exhaust with glue tape and plastic cowl. pic.twitter.com/mEqahSz8oa
— Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) February 6, 2025
The Qaher 313, also called the Q-313 and F-313, which first appeared publicly in 2013, is itself a doubtful and extensively ridiculed design that has by no means flown. Iranian media has proven imagery previously of a distant management plane-like subscale mannequin of the design, as seen within the video under. In 2023, media shops in Iran reported that an uncrewed variant or spinoff was in improvement. Subsequent experiences claimed {that a} Qaher 313-derived drone had made its maiden flight final yr.
Different varieties of drones are additionally seen on Shahid Bagheri‘s deck within the imagery from at this time’s ceremony, such because the Mohajer-6, one other widespread Iranian design in service in Iran and plenty of different locations globally, together with now with the Russian armed forces. American-designed Bell Mannequin 206 and Mannequin 212 helicopters, in addition to Russian-made Mi-17 Hips, are seen working from the ship’s flight deck. Regardless of the aforementioned clip of the plane elevator, no views have but emerged of any inside plane hangars.
The IRGC Naval Forces have launched footage of their new drone-carrier ship, the IRGC Shahid Mahdavi. The ship has been seen on industrial satellite tv for pc imagery and somewhat grainy footage earlier than, however that is the primary such footage of the deck in use by drones and helicopters. Additionally,… pic.twitter.com/yDQLx4VPup
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 6, 2025
Past its aviation-related capabilities, the brand new imagery of Shahid Bagheri highlights the power to launch and get well small boats utilizing davits behind massive doorways on both aspect of the hull, as seen under. Utilizing small boats armed with missiles and different weapons in swarms has lengthy been a signature tactic of the IRGC’s naval arm. There are claims that the ship can be utilized to launch uncrewed floor vessels (USV) and underwater autos (UUV).
Photos which have now emerged, as seen under, additionally present one among Shahid Bagheri‘s boats launching ports getting used as a solution to join, through a ramp, to a smaller touchdown craft-like vessel alongside. On this manner, the ‘service’ might extra quickly load and unload personnel and materiel, together with for onward motion ashore.
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The Shahid Bagheri has its personal onboard armament, together with launchers on the aft finish that look to be for anti-ship cruise missiles and a turret with what seems to be an automated cannon on the bow. The ship in any other case has a big open space on the aft finish behind its important superstructure that may very well be used for varied functions, together with as an extra flight deck for helicopters and vertical takeoff and touchdown succesful drones, in addition to extra missile launchers, particularly containerized sorts. Iranian officers declare the ship has brief and medium-range air defenses, in addition to digital warfare and intelligence-gathering capabilities, however any clear proof thereof is much less seen from the imagery that has now emerged.
Shahid Bagheri‘s bow exhibiting the cannon turret. A pair of white-colored techniques are additionally seen on both aspect of the ski job, however their actual goal is unclear. Authorities of Iran” loading=”lazy” width=”800″ top=”514″ decoding=”async” data-nimg=”1″ class=”rounded-lg” type=”coloration:clear” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5B6M9_3xltwI1W4GH9NvEQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYxNw–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_warzone_735/64d228ac60b222f817962e5475b360a5″/>
An in depth-up of Shahid Bagheri‘s bow exhibiting the cannon turret. A pair of white-colored techniques are additionally seen on both aspect of the ski job, however their actual goal is unclear. Authorities of Iran
We now have additionally not gotten a have a look at a number of the areas inside Shahid Bagheri, together with a medical bay and a gymnasium full with an astroturf soccer pitch, in addition to basketball hoops.
Main questions on Shahid Bagheri‘s capabilities do stay. As TWZ has famous previously, the retention of the unique container ship’s important superstructure towards the aft finish instantly creates an uncommon flight deck association. After photographs of the ship largely accomplished emerged final yr we wrote:
“The truth that the Shahid Bagheri retains the unique superstructure, which spans the complete width of the deck, signifies that a standard flattop configuration can’t be adopted. As a substitute, an angled flight deck offers the requisite runway size, presumably for launch and restoration. Including the angled deck — which extends all the way in which to the bow ramp — entails the development of a distinguished overhang or flare on the left-hand aspect of the vessel. In distinction to the satellite tv for pc picture seen under, the angled deck now has white-painted markings utilized, exhibiting the margins, which lengthen to the top of the ramp, in addition to the centerline.”
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“The scale are very tight and the superstructure is situated instantly subsequent to the angled deck space, that means that recovering plane, if certainly they plan on recovering plane, might hit the superstructure even with a small error in its flight path.”
“If the angled deck is used, and plane don’t make a full cease after touching down, they’ll head up the ski soar once more, however will they’ve the facility to really fly off for one more try? It’s additionally unclear if the vessel will use arresting wires to convey drones to a cease, or maybe a barrier restoration system for some sort.”
We now know that not less than some stage of arresting gear has been fitted, although it stays unclear if the set up was non permanent in nature for the commissioning occasions and whether or not extra refinements could also be coming. Thus far, the modified Ababil-3 and the smaller of the 2 JAS-313s are the one fixed-wing craft we now have seen use the ship’s flight deck, as effectively.
How Iran would possibly make use of the ship stays an open query, although what we now have now seen is totally in keeping with our previous assessments. TWZ beforehand wrote:
“The query of what plane will fly from this odd ship is vital to understanding the objective of its design. Medium-altitude, long-endurance sorts look like very best candidates, as do vertical takeoff and touchdown (VTOL) drones and lots of the one-way assault munitions Iran at present fields. Jet-powered, higher-performance drones might doubtlessly name the service house, which might assist clarify a few of its options. On this manner, the vessel may be used to launch heavier and longer-range drones, together with one-way assault sorts, which might be a bonus. We simply don’t know at the moment.“
“Regardless, there’s ample area on the aspect reverse the angled deck extension for a lot of varieties of drones and different modular weaponry. The aft deck behind the superstructure might area helicopters or smaller catapult and web/line-recovered drone sorts too. Cruise missiles launched from containers on trailers or vans are an alternative choice and one thing that Iran already has expertise of utilizing.“
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“Whereas it wouldn’t essentially be anticipated to launch its drones in opposition to U.S. and allied warships and different property within the area in some sustained method, the Shahid Bagheri might conceivably wreak havoc on industrial transport, together with extra opportunistic assaults in opposition to poorly defended targets, even for a quick interval.“
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“Being able to launch drones, particularly one-way assault drones, from a devoted drone service may very well be useful in some eventualities in opposition to some enemies, in addition to for ‘grey zone’ assaults. It stays very questionable, nonetheless, how lengthy the Shahid Bagheri would survive had been it for use in an offensive capability like this. The truth that it may deploy these capabilities, doubtlessly anyplace across the globe, additionally provides it a novel place in Iran’s navy portfolio. Whereas it might not survive lengthy after doing so, having the ability to threaten targets far past its present attain utilizing weapons launched from its personal nation or by its proxies definitely looks like an uneven play Iran would go for, no matter its really tactical relevance.“
Authorities of Iran
The Shahid Bagheri does additionally be a part of numerous different one-off sea base-like ships with aviation and different capabilities already in service with the IRGC and the common Iranian Navy. Iran has additionally used modified industrial vessels as covert motherships to coordinate assaults, together with by regional proxies, and to conduct intelligence-gathering missions.
As well as, Shahid Bagheri carries vital symbolic worth for Iran, which usually rails in opposition to U.S. Navy carriers and different warships working close to the nation within the Persian Gulf. In flip, Iranian officers have more and more sought to mount long-distance naval deployments, together with within the Western Hemisphere. It’s claimed that Shahid Bagheri has an operational vary of twenty-two,000 nautical miles, which, whereas doubtful, is in keeping with these extra world ambitions.
No matter precise capabilities Shahid Bagheri presents, it does additionally mirror an actual world pattern towards the development of latest massive deck warships closely centered on drone operations, in addition to the conversion of current vessels into differing levels of ‘drone service.’ International locations that function conventional flattops, together with the USA, are more and more trying to develop the uncrewed parts of their service air wings, as effectively.
With Shahid Bagheri now formally commissioned into IRGC service, we’re prone to begin seeing extra of what it may really do and the way the Iranians intend to make use of it.
Contact the creator: joe@twz.com