TEHRAN – Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani announced on Wednesday that the country’s naval forces have developed high combat and defense forces with the help of sophisticated homegrown drones. 

“The Army Navy has successfully integrated some of the most advanced drones out there. This has significantly increased our capabilities and readiness,” Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said during a visit to an Army base in Sirjan, Kerman. 

The commander noted that a series of new equipment will join the Navy’s fleet in the near future which will help maintain and promote its operational capabilities.

Iran has made a name for itself in the drone industry in the past few years. Military analysts believe Iranian drones are among the best in the world due to their low costs and high effectiveness. 

The Shahed-136 Kamikaze drones, despite belonging to the older generations of Iranian-made drones, are especially popular with buyers, who are reportedly seeking to purchase the weapons from all across Asia, Europe, and South America. 

On Tuesday, Lebanon’s Hezbollah Resistance movement released a 9-minute-long and high-quality video taken by a drone that had been flown inside the occupied territories. The drone codenamed Hud Hud, is believed to be a copy of the Iranian Mohajer 4 UAV, a weapon that’s already been in use for several years. 

The Lebanese drone flew over the port of Haifa in the occupied territory, filmed strategic sites, and returned to its departing point unscathed. 

Iranian presence to be boosted in oceans around the world

Elsewhere in his comments, Rear Admiral Irani also emphasized the Iranian Navy's ongoing efforts to expand its global presence.

“We are preparing to expand our maritime capabilities, with a focus on effective presence in all oceans,” he stated, adding that the navy's achievements are a source of pride for the people and the nation, serving as a representation of Iran on the global stage.

The Iranian Navy has undergone an unprecedented period of modernization and expansion in the past decade, marking a milestone in its capabilities. 

For the first time in Iran's naval history, the Iranian Navy's 86th flotilla completed a round-the-world voyage in 2023. The "360 degrees" expedition took a total of 8 months with the flotilla sailing 63,000 kilometers and crossing the equator four times.

Shortly after the successful trip Tehran announced that it will be establishing a base in the South Pole.