‘Second destroyer to join Iran’s fleet’
Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says a second domestically-manufactured destroyer will join the country’s naval fleet in the near future.
The modern Jamaran II (Velayat) destroyer will soon be added to the Iranian naval fleet, Sayyari said Thursday, IRNA reported.
He noted that the production of the Velayat destroyer was in the final stages.
The commander said that Iran was mass-producing its first destroyer, Jamaran, which had already joined the country’s naval fleet.
Sayyari highlighted Iran’s presence in free waters and said the presence was aimed at protecting Iran’s territorial waters and providing security for Iranian oil tankers and merchant vessels in international routes.
He also said that Iran will soon dispatch its 16th fleet of warships to the Gulf of Aden as part of efforts to provide security for Iranian vessels in the piracy-infested area.
Iran has started a self-sufficiency campaign in the defense industry and has launched numerous military projects since the victory of the Islamic Revolution over 30 years ago.
The Iranian Navy launched its first domestically-manufactured destroyer, Jamaran, in the waters of the Persian Gulf in February, 2010.
The 1,420-ton destroyer is equipped with modern radars and other electronic warfare capabilities.
It has a top speed of up to 30 knots and has a helipad. It also features highly advanced anti-aircraft, anti-surface and anti-subsurface systems.
The vessel has also been equipped with torpedoes and modern naval cannons.
