Iran has commissioned its first drone carrier vessel, IRIS Shahid Bagheri, into service with the IRGC Navy. Converted from a container ship, this innovative platform features a ski-jump flight deck capable of launching drones, including fixed-wing and VTOL types, and can carry over 30 fast-attack boats. It is equipped for extended deployment—operational for up to a year without refueling—and can deploy guided subsurface vessels and anti-ship missiles .
Significance:
- Marks a major shift in Iran’s ability to project maritime power covertly, extending capabilities far beyond its coastal waters.
- Enhances intelligence, surveillance, and strike capacity across the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and toward the Strait of Hormuz—areas critical in potential conflict with Israel.
