After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Imperial Iranian Navy was named Islamic Republic
of Iran Navy. As the naval warfare service branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran's armed
forces, it has traditionally been the smallest branch of the Iranian military and is tasked
mainly with securing Iran's ports and coastline. Over time, the Iranian Navy has changed its
mission to primarily anti-piracy beyond the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. The Iranian
Navy has aspirations of becoming a blue water navy but has lost influence to the Iranian
Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, which is now primarily tasked with securing Iran's interests
in the Persian Gulf region.
Overview
The Iranian navy was rebuilt after being almost completely destroyed during the Anglo-Soviet
invasion of Iran in World War II. Following World War II, the fleet began replacing destroyed
warships with destroyers, frigates and many smaller vessels, including powerboats and
hovercraft, many of which originated from the U.S. and UK, which had played a part in
destroying much of the original equipment in World War II. In the 1970s, Iran planned
to extend its naval reach into the Indian Ocean; but this goal was curtailed by the
Islamic Revolution, and the ensuing western-backed first Gulf War which left it hampered in the
face of the invasion.
Mohammed-Reza, the last Shah of Iran ordered four modern general purpose destroyers from
the United States and eight modified Kortenaer class frigates from Royal Schelde, but both
contracts were canceled after the Iranian revolution. The destroyers were instead commissioned
in the U.S. Navy as the Kidd class, while construction of the frigates had not yet started.
In terms of major surface ships, Iran relies on its Alvand Class Frigates as well as the
new Jamaran-Class Frigates which indigenously developed in Iran is a reverse engineered
Alvand Class with Modern Electronics and Radar and Armament. Iran's three destroyers are
over 50 years old and are kept in material reserve at Bushehr. The Iranian Navy does
not include capital ships; their largest ships are five frigates and three corvettes, all
of which are armed with modern anti-ship missiles. The main focus of the Iranian Navy seems to
be developing new frigates, corvettes and medium to large fast boats capable of carrying
modern precision anti-ship missiles. Three of five frigates, however, were commissioned
over 25 years ago and these ships have been updated with Chinese C-802 missiles. Iran's
three corvettes were commissioned over 30 years ago; one was originally a government
yacht but has now been equipped with Chinese C-802 missiles as well, but it is deployed
at Anzali on the Caspian Sea. These eight ships are supported by three Russian SSK Kilo
attack submarines and Ghadir and Nahang class mini submarines. The Russian built Kilo submarines
are considered among the quietest diesel submarines in the world.
History
An Iranian navy in one form or another has existed since Achaemenid times and the First
Persian Empire around 500 BC. The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy came into being when
the former Imperial Iranian Navy of the Pahlavi Era was renamed following the Iranian Revolution
in 1979. Following this was the US-led arms embargo
on Iran and the Iran-Iraq War, in which the IRIN played a role. The arms embargo restricted
Iran's ability to maintain and equip its navy. It had to find new sources of armaments. Equipment
and weaponry were imported from the Soviet Union, China, North Korea and later, Russia.
Iran also established its own domestic armaments industry. This industry has also supported
the navy by providing weaponry, equipment and spare parts.
Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Aviation The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Aviation
is the air arm of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy. It is one of the few air elements
in any Persian Gulf navy, and has both fixed-wing aircraft and armed helicopters.
American aircraft were introduced to the inventory, in the 1960s and 1970s: with European made
aircraft comprising the more modern part of the fleet.
Procurement of naval equipment
Suffering from decaying Western-supplied weapons purchased by the Shah, Tehran has been acquiring
new weapons from Russia, China and North Korea. Iran has expanded the capabilities of the
naval branch of the IRGC, acquired additional mine warfare capability, and upgraded some
of its older surface ships. Iran's exercises have included a growing number of joint and
combined arms exercises with the land forces and air force. Iran has also improved its
ports and strengthened its air defences, while obtaining some logistic and technical support
from states like India and Pakistan. As far as major new equipment is concerned,
Iran has been building up its naval strength by acquiring three Kilo class submarines from
Russia, as well as other equipment, including 10 Houdong fast attack craft from China. Russia
and India were reported to be assisting Iran with training and operating its Kilo class
submarines. As regards other requirements, in December 1997, Rear Admiral Mohammad Karim
Tavakoli, commander of the First Naval Zone, with HQ at the Persian Gulf port of Bandar
Abbas, claimed that the Iranian Navy had completed design work on three multirole corvettes and
a small submarine, to be built in Iran.
In August 2000, Iran announced that it had launched its first domestically produced light
submarine or swimmer delivery vehicle, named the Al-Sabiha 15 because of its 15 meters
length, in an official ceremony at the Bandar Abbas naval base. In May 2005, Iran navy announced
that it had launched its Ghadir class and in 8 March 2006 announced that it had launched
another submarine named Nahang class. During 2000, the Islamic Republic of Iran
Navy Aviation significantly improved its capability by taking delivery from Russia, of a number
of Mi-8 AMT transport/attack helicopters. Under a contract signed in 1999, Russia agreed
to supply 21 Mi-171s to Iran. Delivery was completed in 2001; although the exact number
destined for the navy was unknown. In summer 2001, there were indications that Iran would
order a further 20 Mi-171s, although as of mid-2004, it was not known if this had occurred.
In November 2002 sources at both Iran's Aerospace Industries Organisation and the China Aerospace
Science and Industry Corporation confirmed that the two groups were working on common
Anti-Ship missile production and development. The effort, which Iranian sources call Project
Noor, covers the short-range C-701 and the long-range C-802 weapons developed by COSIC's
China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Co subsidiary. The possibility
that a formal collaborative project was under way was first raised in 1998, when Iran displayed
an Anti-Ship missile design similar to the 15 km range C-701 shortly after the Chinese
system was unveiled. An AIO spokesperson confirmed that Project
Noor involves the C-701. However, officials in the same company describe the weapon as
"a long-range, turbojet-powered, sea-skimming Anti-Ship missile," which better fits the
120 km range C-802, and suggests that the co-operation agreement may cover both weapon
systems. In early 2004, Iran announced the release of a new cruise missile programme
named Raad. The Raad appears to be a modification of the Chinese HY-2 Anti-Ship missile, one
of a series of missiles China developed from the original Soviet-era P21 design.
On September 29, 2003 Iran's domestically produced Sina class missile boat Paykan, equipped
with modern anti-ship missiles and modern electronics entered service in the Islamic
Republic of Iran Navy. The ship was launched in the Caspian sea to protect Iran's interests
there and was mentioned among the achievements of the Iranian Navy by Rear Admiral Habibollah
Sayyari. On September 22, 2006 Iran announced to have
commissioned their second self-made Kaman class missile boat, Joshan. Built in memory
of the original Joshan, lost in the Persian Gulf during Operation Praying Mantis on April
18, 1988. According to Iran's Navy commander Admiral Kouchaki, Joshan has a claimed speed
of over 45 sea knots[3] and "enjoys the world's latest technology, specially with regard to
its military, electrical and electronic systems, frame and chassis, and it has the capabilities
required for launching powerful missiles."
In 2002 Iran announced it would start the production of its first domestically produced
destroyer. By most international standards the ship, the first of the Moudge class, would
be considered a light frigate or a corvette. On November 24, 2007 Iran's rear admiral Habibollah
Sayyari announced that Iran would launch its first domestically produced destroyer, Jamaran
and an Iranian Ghadir class submarine. It is said to be a sonar evading stealth submarine.
Moje, later known as Moje I which appears to be a development of the Alvand Class. Jamaran
guided missile frigate entered service in 2010. Another frigate in the same class, named
Damavand, has been commissioned in the port of Bandar Anzali in the Caspian sea. This
ship just like the Jamaran has the capability to: carry helicopters, anti-ship missiles,
surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, modern guns and air defence guns. The ship is also
equipped with electronic warfare devices. The two mentioned frigates have brought Iran's
frigate arsenal from 3 to 5, while two others are being built, to be added to Iran's fleet
of warships in the Persian Gulf. In March 2006, the navy deployed a submarine
named Nahang but the pictures broadcast by state media at the time showed it was a minisub.
22 February 2008 the Iranian Defense Ministry announced that 74 domestically produced "gunboats"
had entered service with the Iranian Navy. picture The Navy has had reported to have
the Hoot supercavitating torpedo and the Thaqeb in trials or service, though reliable information
is scarce. Iran's Deputy Navy Commander Captain Mansour
Maqsoudlou announced in February 2010 that Iran has begun planning to design, and manufacture
domestically built aircraft carriers. The initial designs for building the carriers
has been approved as of 2010 and the process of research and the design for the aircraft
carrier is currently being looked into by the Iranian government. However, as of August
2013, the Iranian Navy is still currently in the research and design stages due to lack
of government support and funding. In 2012 Iran overhauled one of the Kilo Class
subs in its possession, the INS Younis. Iran was able to complete this re-haul at Bandar
Abbas naval base. In addition the Iranian Navy has modernized and re-commissioned the
1135 ton Bayandor class corvettes; equipped with Noor anti-ship cruise missiles and torpedo
launchers. Another modern destroyer named the Sahand,
with 2000 tons displacement is being fitted up with weapons and equipment in Bandar Abbas
naval base; planned for launch in 2013. In July 2012, foreign analysts reported that
Iran was gaining new deployment capabilities, allegedly to strike at U.S. warships in the
Persian Gulf in the case of an armed conflict, amassing an arsenal of anti-ship missiles
while expanding its fleet of fast-attack crafts and submarines.
Facilities In 1977, the bulk of the fleet was shifted
from Khorramshahr to the new headquarters at Bandar-e Abbas. Bushehr was the other main
base; smaller facilities were located at Khorramshahr, Khark Island, and Bandar-e Khomeini. Bandar-e
Anzali was the major training base and home of the small Caspian Sea fleet, which consisted
of a few patrol boats and a minesweeper. The naval base at Bandar Beheshti on the Gulf
of Oman had been under construction since the late 1970s and in late 1987 still was
not completed. Smaller facilities were located near the Strait of Hormuz. [7] Iran also announced
that new base is established on Oman Sea.[8] Abu Musa - small docking facility on the island's
west end; located near Abu Musa Airport Al-Farsiyah
Bandar Beheshti - port and base facilities in the Gulf of Oman
Bandar-e Abbas - naval HQ and home to naval airbase
Bandar-e Anzali - once training base and now home to Caspian Sea Fleet
Bandar-e Khomeini - small sheltered base located near the border with Iraq
Bandar-e Mahshahr - small base located near Bandar-e Khomeini
Bushehr - repair and storage facility in the Persian Gulf; home to Navy Technical Supply
Center and R&D center Halul
Jask - small base located across from Oman and UAE in southeastern Iran at the mouth
of the Straits of Hormuz Khark - small base on the island and located
northwest of Bushehr Khorramshahr - former naval HQ; now repair
and shipbuilding facilities Larak - small base on the island and near
Bandar-e Abbas Kharg Island - base in the Straits of Hormuz;
home to hovercraft fleet Noshahr - not a base, but home to Iman Khomeini
University for Naval Science Qeshm - small port facility near Kharg and
Bandar-e Abbas Shahid Rajaie
Sirri - island port facility located in the Persian Gulf and across from UAE
See also Current Iranian Navy Vessels
History of the Iranian Navy Iran's Navy Ranks Insignia
Navy of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution
References
External links http:www.infographic.ir;jsessionid=d388b2214c87332e59c840fd50f7#t=recent&f=0&l=10&i=1068
Iran's Naval Forces - Office of Naval Intelligence Iranian Military Pictures & videos
Pre-revolution Imperial Iranian Navy Global Security analysis of Iran's navy