Iran Plans to Equip Submarines with Advanced Missile-Launchers

A senior commander of the Iranian Army’s naval force announced on Sunday that the country plans to equip its submarines and other underwater vessels with home-made missile-launching systems.
Due to submarines’ limitations for firing torpedoes, “we have decided to equip our submarines with missile-launching systems, which of course needs a highly complicated technology and know-how,” Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Army Rear Admiral Farhad Amiri told FNA.

“To fire a missile from a submarine, the target and missile-launch specifications should be sent to the submarine very fast, and this communication technology is currently being developed,” he added.

Amiri expressed the hope that Navy experts will accomplish the project and equip submarines and other Iranian subsurface vessels with missile launchers within the next two years.

Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran, to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes.

Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country’s military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.

Last August Iran launched four light and advanced submarines. The Ghadir-class submarines, made by the Defense Ministry’s Marine Industries, officially joined Iran’s naval fleet in an official ceremony attended by Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi and Commander of the Army’s Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari.

Iran announced in June 2009 that a home-made submarine, named Ghadir 948, had joined the naval brigade of the first naval zone.

In November 2009, Iran announced that its first domestically built Ghadir class submarine launched operation.

The Iranian military said that the submarine can easily evade detection as it is equipped with sonar-evading technology and can fire missiles and torpedoes simultaneously.