IRGC launches ballistic missiles from ship

Shahid Mahdavi , seen here when it was officially commissioned in March 2023, was used to launch ballistic missiles. (IRNA)

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched ballistic missiles from a ship for the first time, the force announced on 13 February.

Iranian news agencies reported that the launch was a collaboration between the IRGC's naval and aerospace forces and involved missiles from the Fateh family.

A video released by the IRGC shows two missiles elevated on launchers in containers on the deck of Shahid Mahdavi , a commercial container ship that the IRGC Navy (IRGCN) commissioned into service as a multi-purpose support vessel in March 2023. Both missiles were then seen being launched, followed by footage showing at least one target on land being hit.

Most Iranian news agencies reported that the missiles had a range of more than 750 km, while the Tasnim News Agency reported that they had a range of 1,700 km. The latter is considerably further than the 1,450 km attributed to the Kheibar Shekan, the longest-range member of the family unveiled to date. The missiles seen in the video did not have the same fin configuration as the Kheibar Shekans that have been displayed.

“This new achievement increased the range of influence and our naval power to any desired point because our oceangoing ships can appear anywhere in the world and when we can fire missiles from them, there is no safe place for any power,” IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami said.