Iranian Official: Iran Almost Through with Indigenization of Submarine Technology

A senior Iranian defense industry official announced on Monday that the country has almost completely indigenized building of military submarines.

Speaking to FNA, Deputy Head of the Naval Industries Organization of the Iranian Ministry of Defense General Babayee said Iran can now manufacture different types of naval equipments, including submarines.

“In construction of military submarines, this organization has achieved more than 90% indigenization now ,” Babayee said.

As regards other products, the official said, “We have indigenized some products up to 92%, while with regard to the production of some other products and depending on the type of the project, indigenization has taken place from 65 to 70%.”

Last month, Iran boosted its naval power in Persian Gulf waters after a new missile launching vessel and two light submarines joined its Navy fleet.

During the ceremony attended by Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, two Qadir-class light submarines also joined the Iranian naval fleet.

All parts of the Qadir-class submarines, including the hull, radar equipment and advanced defense systems, have been made domestically.

The submarines are appropriate vessels for different naval missions, including reconnaissance and combat in territorial waters, specially in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz which are not wide enough for the maneuvering of large warships and submarines.

Meantime, the Iranian Navy tested the operational capabilities of its submarine units on the second day of Velayat 91 naval wargames on Saturday.

Spokesman of the Wargames Rear Admiral Amir Rastegari announced that on the second day of the drills, Iran’s light and kilo-class submarines have traversed the territorial and international waters, conducted reconnaissance missions and traced hypothetical enemies successfully.