Iran’s new warship dismissed as ‘vanity project’
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC(N)) announced a new addition to its fleet on 19 November with the unveiling of a large, multirole surface combatant, with claims from state media outlet IRNA that it can host fighters, helicopters, fast boats and ASuW/AAW missile systems.
Officially named Shahid Rudaki, the vessel, dubbed an ‘ocean-going, aircraft carrier warship’ by state media, is 150m in length and 22m at the beam. Released images indicate the Shahid Rudaki could have been derived from a Handysize-type merchant vessel.
The foredeck appears to have four two-cell launch canisters installed, possibly for Noor anti-ship missiles,
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