Iran's IRGC rolls out new missiles, naval supply ships

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is adding to its naval power, according to Iranian reports. The images of the newly equipped fast boats as well as a new support ship were broadcast on Thursday morning. Reports say that the IRGC, which runs its own branch of Iran’s navy, will receive almost 100 new patrol boats and a large “ocean liner,” style support ship which was converted for naval needs.

This expands Iran’s ability to threaten countries in the Gulf and project power out to sea. Iran has two navies basically, one official navy and the IRGC navy. Iran has been trying to expand its relatively small naval power in recent years, even sending ships on long-distance voyages to Russia and South American waters. 

Iran's maritime capabilities

The reports about Iran’s new missile-capable and drone-launch capable missile boats go back to at least 2020 when Naval Post reported that Iran had received 112 missile-launching boats. Iran produced several classes of these boats, including the Ashura, Taregh and Zulifqar classes.

The Ashura is a small speed 6.7-meter-long boat with two outboard engines and can hold around a dozen men. It is driven with a center console. The Zulfiqar is larger at around 13 meters. The Taregh or Tariq is roughly the same size and these types have been used since the 1980s. READ MORE