Iran has taken a major step toward improving its naval deployment capacity for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters. The Revolutionary Guard has modified an old container ship into a mobile naval platform capable of deploying UAVs and helicopters, offering the country’s naval forces a major strategic advantage.
Shahid Beheshti: A New Era
The ship is an old container ship with a 180-meter runway, introduced as “Shahid Beheshti.” The ship is capable of operating for about a year without refueling. The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Alireza Tangsiri, stated that the ship plays a very important role and was designed as a mobile platform that can carry out UAV and helicopter missions in the oceans. This ship will greatly contribute to Iran’s naval power and will create a significant strategic advantage, especially in its military operations at sea.
UAV and Helicopter Capacity
Shahid Beheshti has the capacity to carry 60 unmanned aerial vehicles. The ship can carry, launch and land these UAVs. In addition, it is possible to deploy various attack and support helicopters that can perform different tasks on the ship. This feature will allow Iran to make its military operations at sea more flexible and effective.
The ship is also equipped with short-range anti-ship missiles, assault boats and unmanned submarines. This diversity allows the ship to be used as an active naval combat platform, beyond just carrying and deploying UAVs and helicopters.
Ability to Operate in Distant Waters
Another important feature of the ship is its ability to navigate the oceans and operate in large sea areas. Thanks to this ship, Iran will be able to operate at sea for a long time with a range of 22.000 nautical miles. This ship, which can operate even in high sea conditions, will provide a great strategic advantage in distant waters thanks to its ability to remain on duty for a long time without refueling.
Strategic and Military Importance
This new Iranian ship is particularly noteworthy as a development that could affect the regional and global military balance. Currently, Iran is strengthening its military presence at sea, and this ship is becoming an important tool in the country's long-range naval operations. The UAVs carried by the ship can be used for tasks such as target detection and intelligence gathering, and will also have operational capacity for short-range attacks.
Iran’s capacity with this advanced ship demonstrates its potential to have an effective military presence not only within its own borders but also in oceans and distant waters. This strategic move seems to reinforce Iran’s military power, especially at a time when tensions in the region continue to increase.
The Shahid Beheshti ship, developed and launched by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, not only increases the country's defense power, but also expands the operational capabilities of its naval forces. With its ability to deploy UAVs and helicopters, this ship will strengthen Iran's military strategy at sea and become a factor that can affect regional security dynamics.
