Iran Commissions 1st Drone Carrier Equipped With Intelligence Gathering Systems

Iran has officially commissioned its first drone carrier, Shahid Bagheri, a converted commercial container ship capable of launching drones, helicopters, and attack boats.

The vessel, which has been under development since 2022, expands the country’s naval capabilities, particularly for long-range and asymmetric warfare.

According to the Iranian media, the ship was formally inducted into service with the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during a recent ceremony.

The Shahid Bagheri features a 180-meter (590-feet) flight deck equipped with a ski jump at the bow, allowing it to launch and recover drones.

The IRGC-N has commissioned the Shahid Bahman Bagheri drone carrier. It will serve a Drone carrier & a Forward Operations base. Possibly a training ship for carrier operations too

Converted from the Perarin cargo ship, its runway measures 180m & it contains 8 hangars pic.twitter.com/hnyVUUpdbL

— Iran Defense|نیروهای مسلح جمهوری اسلامی ایران (@IranDefense) February 6, 2025

Recent footage released by Iranian authorities shows an Ababil-3 drone taking off and landing on the deck using an arresting wire system.

The drone, modified with turbojet engines, appears to be designed for short-deck operations. Iranian military officials have described the Shahid Bagheri as a “mobile naval platform” designed for operations in distant waters.

The vessel can reportedly remain at sea for extended periods and has been outfitted with various military assets, including attack boats, unmanned submarines, and fast-attack crafts.

The ship’s deck has also displayed various types of drones, including versions of Iran’s controversial Qaher 313, a stealth fighter prototype that has long been questioned by inter…

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