TEHRAN (Iran News) – The homegrown missile-launching corvette would enhance the Navy’s combat capabilities in the country’s southern waters. ‘Zereh’ (meaning ‘Armor’ in Persian) missile launcher is one of the country’s powerful vessels with high speed and maneuverability. It is equipped with advanced automatic missiles and artillery.

The vessel is categorized in Iran’s Paykan-class rocket launching warships, all components of which have been manufactured by the Iranian Navy’s experts. The warship has passed all its coastal and maritime tests and is fully prepared to embark on missions.

The Iranian Navy also unveiled a helicopter carrier dubbed ‘Makran’ that has been developed by Iranian experts of the Navy.

The warship joined the naval fleet of the southern coasts at the order of Chief of Staff of Iranian Armed Forces Major General Bagheri on Tuesday.

According to Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, other vessels in the same class will be produced in the coming years.

In recent years, Iran’s naval forces have increased their presence on high seas to secure naval routes and protect vessels against pirate attacks. The Iranian Navy dispatches flotillas, involving homegrown naval gear, to the international waters on a routine basis.

The previous month, the warship joined the IRGC Navy during a ceremony, with senior military and government officials in attendance. The multipurpose vessel, which is 150 meters long and 22 meters wide, can carry different types of aircraft, drones, helicopters, and operational vessels as well as missile, air defense, and radar systems.

It was named Shahid Roudaki warship after martyr commander Abdollah Roudaki from the IRGC Navy. It is equipped with three-dimensional phased-array radars, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, advanced communication systems for electronic warfare, and a Khordad 3 air defense system, all of which are designed and put into operation by Iranian experts. The warship can carry out combat, logistical and intelligence-gathering missions in the ocean aimed at establishing stable security in maritime transportation lines and providing assistance to the commercial and fishing fleets belonging to the Islamic Republic and regional countries.