Iran Adds Advanced Deylaman Destroyer to Caspian Sea Naval Fleet

The Deylaman destroyer has been added to the fleet of Iran’s naval forces in the Caspian Sea. 

“This destroyer is one of the most advanced destroyers of the navy, and it does not lack anything from the world’s leading destroyers,” Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Maj-Gen Mohammad Hossein Baqeri made the remarks while addressing an unveiling ceremony in the northern port city of Anzali on November 27, according to Fars News Agency.

“The Navy showed, by being in the open and international waters and by making a historic trip around the world, and also by building the Deylaman destroyer, that countless successes can be achieved by relying on domestic potential during the period of [western] sanctions [on Iran],” he added.

The destroyer, an addition to Iran’s Mowj class of frigates, has been designed by the Iranian navy and constructed by Iran’s Marine Industries Organization, a subsidiary of the Defense Ministry. It is equipped with cruise missile launchers for above-surface targets, short-range missiles for aerial targets, and Iranian “Azhdar” torpedoes for sub-surface targets. The Deylaman has stealth capabilities and weighs 1,300-1,400 tons. The vessel uses the advanced Iranian “Eagle Eye” radar station, capable of simultaneously detecting 100 targets and tracking up to 13, with a range of 200km.

In recent years, Iranian military experts and technicians have achieved self-sufficiency in domestically producing a wide array of equipment, making significant strides in the realm of weaponry. Iranian officials consistently emphasize their commitment to enhancing military capabilities, including missile and drone technology, despite Western sanctions and opposition from Israel.

On November 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the EU and USA to work with Iran to prevent that country from supplying drones and missiles to Russia. The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri announced on the same day that the IRGC developed and manufactured two air-launched cruise missiles intended to target and destroy hostile drones and guided missiles. 

“The two indigenous standoff weapons have a range of virtually four and 17 kilometers,” Tangsiri said and added that the two new missiles will be unveiled in the future. 

He also hailed the IRGC Navy’s progress in manufacturing vessels and said that the force has already developed the advanced Shahid Soleimani patrol combat warship, Shahid Sayyad Shirazi, and Shahid Bagheri drone aircraft carrier.

On November 22, the IRGC unveiled a new long-range anti-aircraft missile system, called Mehran, which will reportedly affect the operation of US surveillance aircraft. The mobility of the new air defense system allows it to be used in border areas, especially on the southern coasts. This would now force adversaries’ surveillance aircraft and airborne radar systems (AWACS) to keep 320 km from Iran. Mehran is an upgrade of the 3-Khordad system, which consists of four missiles mounted on two arms that can move independently from each other. Mehran’s missiles have a range of 320 km and can threaten bombers, refueling tanker aircraft, military transports, and surveillance and airborne radar systems, the report added.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani announced the successful flight of Yasin, a domestically produced fighter jet trainer. The Yasin prototype was developed in 2019, and Iran started the mass production of the manufactured version of Yasin in March 2023, which is technically and tactically more advanced than the initial prototype. The aircraft is equipped with a meteorological radar on its nose and can record and monitor aviation data during and after the flights.