Iran unveils first semi-heavy missile-equipped submarine
Iran yesterday launched a locally-made submarine capable of firing cruise missiles, state TV said, in the country's latest show of military might at a time of heightened tensions with the US. The launch ceremony, led by President Hassan Rouhani, took place in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. "Today, Iran is fully self-reliant on land, air, and sea," Rouhani said. Here's more.
The submarine, Fateh, is Iran's first in semi-heavy category
During the launch ceremony, Rouhani said, "Our defensive power is meant to defend our interests and we have never sought to attack any country." Named the Fateh (Farsi for 'Conqueror'), Fars news agency said the new submarine is Iran's first in the semi-heavy category, filling a gap between the light Ghadir class and the heavy Kilo class submarines that the country possesses.
The 600-tonne underwater vessel is equipped with torpedoes, naval mines
Fars said the near 600-tonne underwater vessel is equipped with torpedoes (self-propelled weapon with an explosive warhead) and naval mines in addition to cruise missiles and can operate more than 200 meters below sea level for up to 35 days. The US withdrew from a 2015 multilateral nuclear deal with Iran in May 2018 and re-imposed biting unilateral sanctions on August 7 last year.
Iran recently unveiled new ballistic missile with 1,000 kilometers range
Iran's Revolutionary Guards on February 7 unveiled a new ballistic missile with a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), according to the elite unit's official media agency Sepah News. The surface-to-surface missile, which is called Dezful (meaning 'the bridge to the fortress'), is an upgrade on the older Zolfaghar model that had a range of 700 kilometers, aerospace commander Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh said.
Pressure by enemies, war were incentives to be self-reliant: Rouhani
The President said yesterday that "pressure by enemies, the (Iran-Iraq) war and sanctions" were incentives for Tehran to be self-reliant in its defense industry. "Maybe we would not have this motivation to industrialize our defense sector," he further said, answering to if Iran could just buy the weaponry it needed. Iran's top military brass and cabinet ministers also attended the ceremony.
