Four advanced submarines join Iranian fleet
August 9, 2010 - 0:0
TEHRAN – Four advanced submarines joined the Navy fleet on Sunday in a ceremony attended by Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi and Navy Commander Habibollah Sayyari.
Vahidi said that the Qadir submarines are of the light type manufactured inside Iran.One of the most important features of the submarine is its capability of shooting torpedo.
The radar-evading submarine can also transport troops at a high pace and can track battle ships on and under the surface of water, Vahidi stated.
The defense minister also described the delivery as a sign of progress in the Iranian military ingenuity.
“The mass production of this strategic vessel has been conduced to promote the defense capabilities of the Naval Forces,” he noted.
“With the mass production of this submarine along various guided-missile launchers, the country’s defense production chain is complete, and these capabilities will be utilized to help maintain peace, stability and security in the Persian Gulf region and the Sea of Oman,” Vahidi stated.
The Ghadir submarine was first unveiled in 2007. The vessel weighing 12 tons can perform excellently under shallow-depth waters and carry out long-term coastal missions as well. Presently the Iranian Navy possesses 11 submarines of this type.
Aside from three Russian-built Kilo class diesel submarines, the Iranian Navy also employs another domestically-manufactured 500-ton submarine in its patrol missions in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz