Iran’s Revolutionary Guards unveiled the nation’s first-ever drone carrier, Bahman Bagheri, during a high-profile military event on February 6. The carrier, a former container vessel retrofitted with cutting-edge technology, is equipped to deploy drones, helicopters, and unmanned submarines, underscoring Iran’s growing naval capabilities.
Footage broadcast by Iranian state television showcased the 180-meter-long ship in action, with aircraft landing and taking off from its deck. Designed to operate independently in international waters for up to a year, the vessel marks a strategic leap for Iran’s military forces.
Speaking at the unveiling, Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, highlighted the carrier’s advanced capabilities. “It can circle the planet once. It can remain independently in international waters for a year. It can launch long-range cruise missiles from afar. It can defend itself against aerial attacks,” he said.
General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, further emphasized the ship’s role in protecting Iran’s strategic interests. “It is a suitable long-range naval capability for defending the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran and ensuring the security of various waterways for our country’s valuable commercial and oil fleet,” he noted.
The Bahman Bagheri stands apart from earlier Iranian warships. It features a 590-foot runway capable of handling larger drones like the Qaher, a miniaturized drone version of a local fighter jet. Additionally, the vessel is armed with short-range cruise missiles and hosts fast-attack crafts and unmanned submarines.
This development comes amid a series of military exercises Iran has been conducting since early January. The exercises, which will continue into March, aim to showcase the country’s growing defence capabilities in the face of regional tensions with Israel and the United States under President Donald Trump, who has imposed the first batch of sanctions aimed at Iran’s “oil network”.
Last month, Iran’s conventional navy also added its first signals intelligence ship to its fleet, further strengthening its maritime surveillance and defence capabilities.
The introduction of Bahman Bagheri signals a shift in Iran’s naval strategy, which now focuses on versatility and long-term endurance at sea. As the geopolitical landscape in the region remains tense, this latest addition to Iran’s fleet will likely draw significant attention from global powers.
Team BharatShakti
(With inputs from Reuters)
