Iran Equips Its Naval Forces With Long-Range Abu Mahdi Cruise Missiles
The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (NEDAJA) and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy destroyers have received a new long-range strategic cruise missile dubbed ‘Abu Mahdi’. The missile is Iran’s response to the growing US military presence in the Persian Gulf. Many high-ranking personnel attended the missile delivery ceremony, including Afshin Naderi Sharif, Deputy Head of Industry Research at the Iranian Ministry of Defense, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, IRGC Navy Commander Commodore Alireza Tangsiri, and IRIN second-in-command Admiral Hamza Ali Kaviani.
The Abu Mahdi cruise missile, named after Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Deputy Chief of the Hashd al-Shaabi, who was killed alongside Qassem Soleimani, Commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC, in an American airstrike in 2020, is one of the products of the Iranian Ministry of Defense’s Aerospace Industries Organization and the Armed Forces Support institution.
According to Iranian media, Abu Mahdi is Tehran’s first long-range naval cruise missile with a range of more than 1,000 km (620 miles) and a dual-mode active and passive seeker. Another characteristic of the missile reportedly is the ability to resist electronic warfare as a result of this technology is the use of artificial intelligence in the trajectory definition and command-control systems. Because of the artificial intelligence system that it uses to draw the most appropriate flight path, the Abu Mahdi missile, which can fly at low altitude and under the sight of enemy radars, gains the ability to pass through the enemy’s radar, as well as attack and hit targets from different directions.
Other claims regarding this new missile include its potential to eliminate all sorts of ships, frigates, and destroyers due to its low CEP (circular error probability) value and warhead containing highly destructive explosives when it hits its target.
Admiral Ali Riza Tangsiri, Commander of the Naval Forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, stated during his speech that the primary purpose of this missile is to keep the enemy away from Iran’s coasts. Tangsiri continued his speech by referring to the United States’ decision to deploy the USS Thomas Hudner destroyer, as well as F-35 and F-16 fighter jets, in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman and making the following statement: “If an Iranian military ship sails 1,000 kilometers offshore and launches an Abu Mahdi missile with a range of 1000 kilometers, the enemy aircraft carrier must retreat 1000 kilometers, rendering the enemy aircraft carriers useless.”
According to Afshin Naderi Sharif, Deputy Head of Industry Research at Iran’s Ministry of Defense, “the Abu-Mahdi missile is not only designed for naval targets.” This missile was designed with the goal of removing the enemy from our coasts. But of course, by making minor modifications to this platform, it is possible to convert it into a ground attack missile.” Naderi Sharif also stated that the Shahid Qassem Soleimani ballistic missile will be delivered to the IRGC Aerospace Forces soon.