Introduction to the New Vessel
This week, Iran revealed its first indigenous drone carrier, the Shahid (Martyr) Baqeri, as reported by state-run media, the Islamic Republic News Agency. The carrier officially joined the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Navy (IRGC) during a ceremony in Bandar Abbas, located along the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz in the Arabian Gulf.
Capabilities of the Shahid Baqeri
The Shahid Baqeri is expected to carry out various naval missions involving drones and helicopters. Iran becomes the second Middle Eastern nation to develop this type of carrier, following Turkey’s introduction of the TCG Anadolu in April 2023. According to IRCG Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the Martyr Baqeri is equipped to carry multiple squadrons of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), launch and land unmanned fighter jets, deploy reconnaissance and combat drones, and manage light combat vessels and helicopters. Tangsiri noted that the carrier enhances Iran’s defensive capabilities and contributes to safeguarding national interests.
Specifications
The carrier boasts an operational range of 22,000 nautical miles and features a runway that is 180 meters long, as per Tasnim’s reports.
Strategic Impact and Concerns
Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at RANE, highlighted the carrier’s potential to strengthen Tehran’s power projection capabilities, particularly in the Gulf, around Yemen, and the Red Sea. He suggested that having a drone platform at sea would bolster Iran’s surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities in areas of strategic interest. Additionally, he indicated that drones could enhance Iran’s ability to provide intelligence to proxies, aiding them in targeting missions against mutual rivals, including actions against Israeli interests.
However, Bohl expressed skepticism regarding the Shahid Baqeri’s long-range operational capacity, stating that it would struggle to operate far from Iranian shores without a supporting fleet or advanced air defenses.
Recent Context
This announcement follows the participation of Iran’s operational long-range drone, named “Gaza,” in recent military exercises. It also comes after a series of missile exchanges between Tehran and Jerusalem in recent months.
Concerns About Iran’s Maritime Capabilities
Despite operating older naval vessels, Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted Iran’s history of converting commercial vessels into warships. He expressed concerns that the conversion of tankers into drone carriers suggests an ambition to extend Iran’s regional drone capabilities to a global scale. Ben Taleblu emphasized that the uniqueness of the Shahid Baqeri lies in its exclusive designation for drone operation, making it the first drone carrier for the IRGC Navy.
