Iran Develops Mini-Subs
NICOSIA [MENL] -- Iran has reported the development of a range of
mini-submarines.
Officials said Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has overseen the
development of submarines and other miniature underwater tactical vessels.
They said the vessels could conduct both reconnaissance as well as attack
missions in the shallow waters of the Gulf.
"These new high-speed small-sized platforms will have an underwater
function similar to the performance of small speedboats in seas, an ability
that has worried the enemy," IRGC commander Maj. Gen. Ali Jafari said.
In an interview with the state-owned Fars News Agency, Jafari said IRGC
was not seeking to develop or procure conventional submarines. He said the
miniature models were much less vulnerable to Western-origin sonar radar and
fitted with Iran's asymmetric warfare strategy.
"Underwater is a good area that is used by our forces," Jafari said. "We
are not seeking to build large and giant submarines because they are
vulnerable," Jafari said.
In August 2010, the Iranian Navy launched four light submarines meant
for operations in the Gulf. The Ghadir-class submarines, with the ability to
fire torpedoes and missiles, were meant to detect both surface and
underwater vessels as well as transport special forces.
"They also have radar-evading capability, and the system enjoys
high-precision targeting," Iranian Defense Minister Ahmed Vahidi said.
In the interview, Jafari said the new underwater vessels could overpower
much larger naval assets. He did not identify the new mini-submarines.
"We must use the same asymmetric approaches in building tools and
equipments and even in defining our tactics," Jafari said.
