Monday, May 10, 2010

Velayat-89 Military Maneuvers (5)

click photos to enlarge
IRIS Jamaran (76), Mowj class frigate

Noor (C-802) AShM launchers (x4), port side IRIS Jamaran

Triple torpedo launcher (similar to Mk 32 SVTT type),
starboard side IRIS Jamaran

Lightweight torpedo launch exercise, starboard side IRIS Jamaran. (Iranian media reports a new Iranian-built "anti-submarine" fire-and-forget torpedo being test-fired for the first time.)

Ghadir class midget submarine

Frontal view of the Ghadir

Kaman class missile boat equipped with SM-1 Standard SAM launchers and stern mounted fire control radar.

Iran TV Video coverage:

Photo/Video credits:
Hossein Zohrevand at Fars News Agency
Younes Khani at Mehr News Agency
Islamic Republic News Agency
Videos: Aminco @ IMF

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

considering 30 years of sanctions plus a devastating 8 year (succesful) war I am very impressed over the achievements of Irans armed forces.

I have no doubt, Iran is going to be an alpha nation withing the next decade.... Good luck and God Bless

Anonymous said...

How serious of a threat is the Iranian navy for the US? What did the Iranian navy learn from ''operation praying mantis'' ?

Anonymous said...

We soon need to have another acronym um BRIIC, yes you guessed Brazil,India,Iran,Russia,China. Just another BRIIC in the empires wall!

Anonymous said...

as far as I know, Iran is not supposed to be a threat to anyone, least of all the US

Its a deterent, making it clear, that there will be grave losses if the want to attack Iran.

There is no doubt the US is the strongest and etc, etc. but Iranians are the bravest with the biggest balls on the planet ;)

Anonymous said...

Most of the comments are realistic and factual. Iran is not a threat to anyone, but has a first rate deterrent power to give genuine grief to any moronic nation would has aggressive designs againt it, whether it be the US (highly improbable) or its little Zionist mutt(mission impossible).

Iran has steadily invested in defensive asymmetrical warfare capabilities using its natural strengths i.e, 3000 year old well defined Iranian/Persian nationalism, entrenched national identity and the unique character and psyche that places almost mystical value on Namoos and Gheyreit (family, personal and national honor).

Iran's defensive doctrine plays on its huge manpower advantage (80 million people), very youthful martial population that is every military planners dream come true (Iran has a military age cohort 16-55 years of almost 35 million plus) and lastly its geographical and topographical advantages (60% mountaineous terrain, 1.64 million sq/kms and some of the world's largest energy reserves (oil and gas) not to mention chokehold over 40% of global energy shipping routes.

The US is well aware of Iranian tenacity in defending their ancient motherland and national honor. In 1988, when Iran was at its weakest and totally isolated and cut-off from militrary supplies, the USN launched the infamous operation "Preying Mantis" to support Saddam's tottering military which was about to collapse after Iranian success at Fao and Basra marshes. USN downed an Iranian civilian airliner (Iran Airbus Flt 655 captained by Mohsen Rezaian), and attacked Iranian oil platforms around Kharg and tried to destroy the remainder of Iran's then very small operational naval fleet. What really astonished the US (like Saddam previously) was the stoic suicidal will of the Iranian's to fight back despite over-whelming odds. The small Iranian fleet comprising the spare-parts deprived La Combattante missile craft like IRIS Joshan with its malfunctioning Harpoons and the its bigger sister ships the Sabalan and Sahand (Vosper Mk5 Frigates) came out fighting without any aircover to challenge the might of US %th Fleet. Despite these impossible odds still engaged the USN and refused to disengage. Unfortunately the Sahand was sunk and the Sabalan was damaged (and later repaired and put back into service). Despite the loss of Sahand, one of Iran's most modern ships, the Iranian navy continued to fight till the very end.

These types of extra-ordinary heroic acts by the Iranian forces were the norm and not an exception. They basically define Iranian national character. The US is quite aware that Iran of 2010 is not the war weary isolated nation of 1988. The next encounter which is highly unlikely since both Iran and US have a realitic assessment of each others power will avoid any escalation, particularly in view of US morass in the region. So in essense Iran poses no threat to anyone,, but with history as a guide, it can be safely assumed that Iran will defend itself agianst any threat if ever challenged. This is neither hyperbole or bluster, but just plain reality.

Anonymous said...

Is it just me or does the new Iranian ASW torpedo have a pumpjet?

Anonymous said...

Iran and most navies have done extensive research on the US MK-46/48 (originally deployed in 1972) and the hyper-speed Russian SHKVAL VA 111 which Iran displayed in 2006 excercises. Based on Iranian experience most domestically made torpedoes use Air Turbine Pump Discharge (ATPD) system; liquid fueled swash plate engine with pumpjet propulsor. If you look at the magnified photo of this new Iranian torpedo and examine the tail fin it surely looks like a pump jet propulsion. By looking at the torpedo size, warhead and the firing tube it is likely that this has a range of 5-8kms which is within standard range specifications for this type. The speed with the pumpjet propulsion should be about 80-100kms.

Anonymous said...

can this torpedo change its path while on its way to hit a moving target.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it has active homing and target course correction and for that reason its called "fire and forget".