Alwaght- It has been years since Iran gained self-sufficiency in providing defense equipment to its military forces and is considered a top world power beside a finite number of countries in the drone and missile technologies. Driven by a spirit of faith and self-belief, young Iranian scientists have smashed the frontiers of impossibility and everyday with unstoppable diligence unveil to the world new breakthroughs.
Maritime military industry, as a key element in the country's defense strategy, has witnessed the unveiling of great achievements in recent years that have promoted the maritime power of the Islamic Republic in the region and the world. In fact, the defense policymakers of the country have redefined defense policies and strategies based on the progress and capabilities that military industries have shown in the maritime sector amid changing nature of the challenges and threats national interests and security are facing.
An example is the recent launch of the state-of-the-art Iranian warship last week with the presence of Iran's Chief of General Staff General Mohammad Bagheri and a number of military commanders. The Martyr Soleimani combat and patrol catamaran warship— named after top IRGC commander General Qassem Soleimani who was assassinated by the US at Baghdad International Airport in 2020—, along with two guided missile frigates is the latest showcase of the Iranian defense technologies that joined IRGC naval fleet last week.
Martyr Soleimani warship sports a stealth body with very low radar cross-section, enabling long-range high seas missions by the IRGC navy. Compared to the same class vessels, Martyr Soleimani warship is capable of higher maneuvering power as it enjoys smaller turning radius which is important for defensive tactics.
The new naval vessel is capable of carrying a helicopter, several speed boats, and drones. Also a domestically-developed communication system and self-protection mechanism are installed on it. These features make it one of the most modern warships made by the Iranian scientists.
Active deterrence beyond Persian Gulf
Governments develop defense strategies based on the understanding of the nature of existing and upcoming threats and challenges in their security environment and also based on the definition of national interests.
In the years leading up to 2020, the geopolitically-important West Asia was affected by some factors, such as the efforts of some Arab countries to form an Arab-Israeli military alliance, and many changes occurred that have increased the tension and conflict spots in the region. The mentioned military coalition, which is affected by the geopolitical context in the region and the American plan to reduce the military presence and the burden of security responsibilities, has posed risks to the Iranian security, interests, and Persian Gulf stability and peace.
Driven by this understanding, during the Martyr Soleimani warship's inauguration, General Bagheri said: "Normalization of relations with the Zionist regime by some Arab countries is a threat to the region."
These words expressed planning and readiness by the strategic Iranian navy to face the threats based on an active deterrence and beyond territorial waters, especially when it comes to destructive and illegitimate presence of the Israeli regime in the regional waters.
Until now, based on a division of duties in the field of maritime warfare, the IRGC navy was responsible for the security of territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, and the presence in extraterritorial waters was assigned to the army navy. However, it seems that now, with the improvement of the IRGC navy's weapons capabilities, this force is also preparing to expand its operational range beyond the Persian Gulf waters.
The IRGC navy's chief General Alireza Tangsiri commented on the New warship inauguration, saying that with addition of the Martyr Soleimani warship, the IRGC naval forces will find a ground for powerful presence in distant waters and oceans.
This significantly increases Iran's naval power in international waters and establishes a balance of threat with threatening sources, especially from the Israeli regime.
Since old times, the sea has been a setting of international powers' competition and it is an indisputable reality that the powers have massive presence in international waters in defense of their national interests and for influencing the course of global developments. As an emerging power on the world stage, Iran feels a need to prepare in the sea amid signs of change in international order and increasing security vacuum in regional waters.
