The United States naval force is keeping a sharp eye out on Iran Naval capacity and ability. The United States is currently studying Iran Naval capacity even more aggressively. They acknowledge that Iran is planning to expand its naval reach. They also acknowledge that Iran Naval forces is the bulk of there defenses. The recent United resolution will leave an open door for those who want to use military means as an option. The recent study of Iran Naval capablities is another sign that the United States military will target Iran Naval forces. The small qoute below describes United States naval understanding of Iran capabilities.
Outlook
Subtnarines be equipped with torpedoes, naval mines, and
Submarines will probably remain a key feature missiles. According to Iran, the QA'EM will
of Iran's naval order of battle. Iran is the only be capable of carrying out both defensive and
country in the Persian Gulf region with sub- offensive operations.
marines, and Iranian naval leaders have stated
publicly that they believe submarines are a bet- Additionally, the IRIN Commander, Rear
ter value than other weapons systems. The late Admiral Sayyari, announced the production
Rear Admiral A.shkbus Daneh-Kar wrote that of a submarine of more than 1,000 tons. This
Iran "calculated the deterrent value of subma- may be yet another submarine for the IRIN in
rines--submarines could, on a purely self- addition to the QA'EM.
sufficient basis, detect surprise attacks launched
from far distances and abort them."12 Surface Ships
In keeping with this focus on submarines, in
August 2008 Iran reported that the Ministry
of Defense's Marine Industries Organization
inaugurated the production line of the
QA'EM-class submarine, reportedly a 450-ton
submarine. Iran has stated that this new generation
submarine will be built in Iran and will
Model of a QA'EM-class coastal ,ubruari,,"I
Iran has constructed what it calls the MO\\jclass
destroyer-in fact a corvette-that, once
accepted into service, will probably be employed
in the IRlN's operating area in the Gulf
of Oman. More construction of larger ships
has occurred in the Caspian. Iran announced
that it began a production line of the MO\\j-2
at Bandar Anzali. Also in the Caspian, Iran
has built four copies of its COMBATTANTE
II-class guided missile patrol boat. These construction
programs demonstrate Iran's ability
to produce mid- to large-size ships. Coupled
with Iran's continuing interest in self-sufficiency,
these ship-building programs will likely be followed
by others.
The IRIN is also retrofitting older surface
combatants with upgraded weapons systems.
12Dane/z-Km; .AJ"/zlbl/J; Re(ff .Admiral, "Operational Doctn"ne qftlzeJlao/ qft/ze hlamic Republic qf lrrm, "Sqff, iJ"we}/o. 238, Pi'- 10-12
24
For example, in 2008 Iran announced that it
had installed missiles on one of its patrol craft,
turning it into a guided missile patrol craft.
Iran also substantially upgraded the PF-103-
class patrol ship NAGHDI with missiles. This
type of retrofitting will allow the IRIN to
extend the usefulness of its aging fleet.
In contrast to the IRIN, the IRGCN has concentrated
on acquiring and developing small,
fast boats, some lightly armed and others
armed with missiles and torpedoes, and will
probably continue this trend.
Weapons
Naval modernization is one of Iran's highest
military priorities and the country continues to
focus on weapons acquisition and development
programs. Programs of interest include expanding
inventories of existing weapons systems and
increasingly sophisticated systems. Weapons,
such as the Hoot supercavitation high-speed
missile torpedo, may be proliferated throughout
the Iranian naval inventory, as will longer
range anti-ship cruise missiles, such as the
Ra'ad. Finally, given the importance of mining
to Iranian naval strategy, some effort will
continue in this area as well.
Changes in Strategy
Iran's naval forces are unlikely to make wholesale
changes to their naval strategy. However,
it is clear that Iran will modify its strategy
when appropriate. Rear Admiral Daneh-Kar
noted that Iranian planners would review and
revise their operational doctrine based on lessons
learned from past and current operations,
as well as on the capabilities of new weapons
systems entering the service. He continued,
"We cannot develop the Navy's operational
doctrine in isolation."13
Recent activity bears witness to some of this
adaptation. IRIN commander Rear Admiral
Sayyari has stated that the IRIN will push
operations further out into the Gulf of Oman
and even the Indian Ocean to protect Iran's
maritime interests, and, as mentioned earlier,
Iran claims its naval forces are conducting extended
patrols. A decade hence may see more
frequent IRIN patrols in the north Arabian
Sea or Indian Ocean. To support this, the
IRIN has a plan to establish new naval bases
along the Gulf of Oman by 2015 and strengthen
its presence outside the Strait ofHormuz.
The IRGCN will likely continue to patrol and
operate inside the Persian Gulf, a place where
Rear Adru.iralHabibollah Sayyari, COIllIllander of the
IRIN, in front of a poster depicting IRIN naval platfoTIlls
HDanelz-Km; .AJ"/zlbuJ" Nar .Admiral, "OpnationaiDoctnne iftlze )lacy if the hlamic Republic if fTan, "Sqff, iJ"J"/uJIo. 235, Pi'- 32-35.
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its asymmetric tactics and numerous platforms
are at an advantage. However, its modernization
efforts may provide it with more sophisticated
platforms.
Conclusion
«The countries if this region have a sensitive strategic
and geopolitical situation and the Islamu Republic if
Iran can play a considerable role among these countries.
»
General Mohammad-Baqer ,<:plqadr
Former Deputy Commander
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Iran sees itself as a regional power, and its
naval forces, the IRIN and the IRGCN, plan
to support this view as they work to expand
both their weapons inventories and their
capabilities. According to Iranian officials,
"extra-regional" forces are neither welcmne
nor necessary in the waterways ofthe Middle
East, and the Iranian armed forces have
"proven during these 30 years of the revolution
that they are ready to defend the territory
of their country."14
Follow link below:
href="http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/oni/iran-navy.pdf
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