Alwaght- Iranian naval forces are holding a massive three-day drill, code-named "Velayat 97", in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
The drill which started on Friday is being held in an area of two million square kilometers, from the Strait of Hormuz to the southeastern coasts of Makran, the Sea of Oman and the northern parts of the Indian Ocean, down to the 10-degrees latitude.
In comments on Thursday, Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said the drill will be held in four separate phases, including naval parades, simulation of a real naval war, maritime and land offense to practice recapturing the territories occupied by the enemy, and the display of the Navy’s power by launching various types of missiles and torpedoes.
He also noted that the Navy will for the first time fly patrol, reconnaissance and bomber drones during the war game.
Rear Admiral Khanzadi said the submarines will also launch missiles in the exercise for the first time, noting that anti-submarine helicopters will also land on and take off from the Sahand destroyer’s deck.
The war game will include electronic warfare tactics and electronic data transmission from the coast, he added.
For the first time, the Iranian navy is to fly patrol, reconnaissance and bomber drones during the drill, he added. Submarines will launch missiles in the drill for the first time, and anti-submarine helicopters will also land on and take off from the deck of Sahand destroyer.
Electronic warfare tactics and electronic data transmission from the coast are among other parts of the exercise, he said. Iranian naval forces are also testing the new domestically built Fateh (Conqueror) submarine which is armed with cruise missiles and was launched last week.
The drill comes a couple of months after IRGC forces, including a brigade from the IRGC Navy, held the country's first offensive war game, named Great Prophet 12, near the Qeshm Island in Persian Gulf.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has vowed to continue strengthening its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran’s defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.
