Iran announces 3-day navy drill from Gulf to Indian Ocean
Iran is to launch a three-day annual navy drill from 22 February 2019 in a vast area of the Gulf and the Indian Ocean including a sensitive global shipping route, state TV reported on 21 February.
‘The drill will be held in the waters of Strait of Hormuz, Makran coast, Oman Sea and the north of the Indian Ocean, covering 2 million square kilometres and going on for three days,’ said Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, Iran's navy commander.
The exercise aims to evaluate the navy's equipment, practice launching weapons and ‘enable the troops to gain readiness for a real battle,’ he added.
The strait at the mouth of the Gulf is crucial to global energy supplies, with about a third of the world's seaborne oil passing through it every day.
The show of military might comes at a time of heightenedtensions with Iran's main regional rival Saudi Arabia and with Washington, which last year withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
The Strait of Hormuz is an international transit route where American forces routinely pass and which has seen tense encounters between them and Iranian forces in the past.
Dubbed as ‘Velayat 97’, the drill will showcase Iran's submarines, warships, helicopters and drones, according to the admiral.
The exercise will also include missile launches from the vessels, Khanzadi added.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Navy asks Lockheed Martin to continue development of passive sonar for surface vessels]()
US Navy asks Lockheed Martin to continue development of passive sonar for surface vessels
Lockheed Martin will continue to develop the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 sonar system for the USN and FMS customer Australia.
-
![ECA Group and TechnicAtome partner on next-gen French nuclear subs]()
ECA Group and TechnicAtome partner on next-gen French nuclear subs
ECA Group will produce onboard electrical systems for next-generation French SSBNs.
-
![UK hunts for uncrewed surface and subsurface vessel to support future commando operations]()
UK hunts for uncrewed surface and subsurface vessel to support future commando operations
With requirements stipulating de-risked and demonstrated technology, Subsea Craft’s VICTA diver delivery unit ticks many of the boxes for the UK’s uncrewed surface and subsurface vessel requirement.
-
![UK commits to two new survey ships, the first to be procured this year]()
UK commits to two new survey ships, the first to be procured this year
Galvanised by the recent damage to the Nordstream pipelines, the UK is procuring new ships for keeping tabs on critical undersea infrastructure.
-
![US Navy orders full-rate production support for Evolved Seasparrow Block 2]()
US Navy orders full-rate production support for Evolved Seasparrow Block 2
Latest ESSM Block 2 support contract covers SAM purchases for 11 navies.
-
![Taiwan commissions first homemade LPD]()
Taiwan commissions first homemade LPD
Taiwan’s new LPD will enhance the island’s amphibious abilities and offer multirole capabilities to support mine countermeasures and logistics missions.
