IRAN LAUNCHES NEW LOCALLY-MADE SUBMARINE CAPABLE OF FIRING CRUISE MISSILES

Context:

  • The Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has unveiled a “state-of-the-art” domestically produced submarine capable of firing cruise missiles. The launch has gained significance due to the skewed relations with the USA.

Fateh Submarine:

  • The launch was held in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.
  • Fateh, which means ‘Conqueror’ in Farsi (Persian language) is Iran’s first submarine in the semi-heavy category. It fills a gap between the light Ghadir-class and the heavy Kilo-class submarines that Iran possesses. The underwater-vessel weighs nearly 600 tonnes and is equipped with torpedoes and naval mines in addition to cruise missiles. The submarine can operate more than 200 metres below sea level for up to 35 days.
  • It has subsurface-to-surface missiles with a range of about 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles), making it capable in reaching Israel and U.S. military bases in the region. The launch is one of the most important projects Iran’s military have undertaken in the last 40 years mostly because of its vertical launching system.
Share Socially