Iranian Navy Commissions Two New Shadid Soleimani-Class Catamaran Corvettes
On February 19, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) commissioned two new Shadid Soleimani-class catamaran corvettes. The capital of the Hormozgan province, Bandar Abbas, hosted the official handover ceremony for the ships named after “Shahid Hassan Bagheri” and “Shahid Sayyad Shirazi,” who are known for their successes during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war. Senior military officials were present at the event, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the Commander of the Revolutionary Guard Naval Forces.
In his speech at the ceremony, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, expressed his pride in the navy’s progress and noted that the production rate was surprisingly efficient. The general stated that Iran’s progress is almost unique in comparison to other countries, and that this was achieved despite the sanctions. Bagheri also stated that the conditions in the Middle East are “sensitive and dangerous” and that “the Islamic Republic’s defensive deterrence has created a reliable shield for national security and defense, but the Armed Forces must take even the smallest threats and possibilities in threat scenarios very seriously.”
Shahid Hassan Bagheri (FS313-02) and Shahid Sayyad Shirazi (FS313-03) are the third and fourth models of the IRGC’s Soleimani class ships. The class’s lead ship, Shahid Soleimani, was built at the Shahid Mahallati Shipyard in Bushehr and joined the IRGC Navy in September 2022. Shahid Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, which is considered the second ship of the class but differs from Shahid Soleimani in terms of sensors, weapons, and technical features, was delivered to the IRGC last month. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy is currently working on the construction of the fifth ship of this class.
According to Iranian media, “Shahid Sayyad Shirazi” and “Shahid Hassan Bagheri” are 67 meters long, 14.5 meters wide and have a displacement of 600 tons. Powered by four Iranian-made diesel engines that can reach speeds of up to 32 knots (59 km/h), the two new warships can navigate within a radius of 5,500 nautical miles (10,200 kilometers) without being detected by enemy radars and reconnaissance systems. These ships, which can stay at sea for 14 days without the need for logistic support, can operate in sea state 5 and stay afloat in sea state 6 conditions, thanks to their hull design.
In terms of armament, these ships are equipped with the ‘Navvab’ vertical launch system (VLS), one 30 mm gun, four 20/23mm chain guns, sixteen Sayyad series SAMs, six anti-ship cruise missiles (four long-range and two medium-range) and six surface-to-surface missiles (Abu-Mahdi SSM). There is also a helipad at the stern of these ships for a Bell-412 heavy helicopter with anti-submarine warfare capabilities or unmanned aerial vehicles capable of vertical take-off and landing. Below the helipad is storage for three fast attack boats capable of firing torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.