IRIS Shahid Bagheri

History
Iran/South Korea
NameShahid Bagheri
NamesakeBahman Bagheri
OperatorNavy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
BuilderHD Hyundai Heavy Industries - ULSAN, South Korea
Completed2000
HomeportBandar Abbas
Identification
General characteristics
Class and typeGERMANISCHER LLOYD
Displacement41,978 t (41,315 long tons; 46,273 short tons)
Length240.2 m (788 ft 1 in)[2]
Beam32.2 m (105 ft 8 in)
Draft11.7 m (38 ft 5 in)
Installed power20000 KW
Aircraft carriedAble to carry different types of helicopters (e.g. Bell-412) and UAVS (e.g. IAIO Qaher-313) [3]
Aviation facilitiesHelicopter landing deck

Shahid Bagheri is a drone carrier under development to be operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy.[4] She is the result of the 2022–2024 conversion of the container ship Perarin, to which was added an oblique tread at a slope, in the manner of light aircraft carriers.[5] She is named after Shahid (martyr) Bahman Bagheri, an IRGC commander who died in Pathak, Iraq, in a clash of the Iran–Iraq war.[6]

The ship is the first full service UAV carrier of IRGC Navy. She was launched at sea for the first sea trials from her home port of Bandar Abbas sometime around 28 November 2024. Her launch underscored Tehran's efforts to project its power overseas, far beyond nearby waters.[7]

History

The Shahid Bagheri (C-110-4) was previously the container ship Perarin (IMO: 9209350) from South Korea.[8] The Ship was first spotted being constructed 3 January 2023 in an Iranian dockyard.[9] The most notable feature was an angled flight deck being constructed. It was not until 21 August 2024, when the first clear images of the Aircraft carrier was posted on telegram and then to twitter [10] These posts quickly went viral with many different defense experts comparing the design to the HMS Furious. The Carrier became viral once again because of reports of Iranian drones off the coast of New Jersey [11][12] Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, claimed that Iran was operating a drone mother ship off the coast of New Jersey, however, the same day,multiple images of the Shadid Bagheri off the coast of Iran was revealed that day, proving that the carrier was still busy with sea trails near Iran.

Operation History

Sea Trails for the Shahid Bagheri began on 13 November 2024 [13] leaving Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex, just west of the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.twz.com/sea/irans-bizarre-aircraft-carrier-seen-in-new-detail
  2. ^ https://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.php?ship_id=iris-shahid-bagheri-aircraft-carrier-iran
  3. ^ http://www.hisutton.com/Iran-Navy-IRGC-Forward-Base-Ships.html
  4. ^ Newdick, Thomas (2024-08-21). "Iran's Bizarre 'Aircraft Carrier' Seen In New Detail". The War Zone. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  5. ^ BLIN, Denis (2024-08-29). "L'Iran aurait terminé de transformer un deuxième porte-conteneurs en porte-aéronefs". Le marin (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  6. ^ "Shahid Bahman Bagheri - IRGCN drone carrier". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  7. ^ "Shahid Bahman Bagheri - IRGCN drone carrier Satellite images show Iran's new drone carrier has set sail, leaving its home port for the first time". businessinsider. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  8. ^ http://www.hisutton.com/Iran-Navy-IRGC-Forward-Base-Ships.html
  9. ^ https://news.usni.org/2023/01/03/iran-building-drone-aircraft-carrier-from-converted-merchant-ship-photos-show
  10. ^ https://www.twz.com/sea/irans-bizarre-aircraft-carrier-seen-in-new-detail
  11. ^ https://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-images-iranian-drone-carriers-far-from-us-amid-mystery-2024-12
  12. ^ https://www.fox29.com/news/iranian-mothership-mystery-drone-sightings-new-jersey-van-drew
  13. ^ https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-new-drone-carrier-left-home-port-images-2024-12