"Shahid Bahman Bagheri" - Iran's IRGC's new "aircraft carrier-drone carrier"
On February 6, 2025, a ceremonial commissioning of the C-110-4 aircraft carrier "Shahid Bahman Bagheri", named after an IRGC officer and hero of the Iraq-Iran War, was held for the Iranian Navy.
In his speech at the ceremony, IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said the new ship was “the largest naval project in the stories Islamic Republic", capable of applying both missiles long range, as well as drones and helicopters.
IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri
The ship "Shahid Bahman Bagheri" was based on the container ship "Perarin" owned by the Iranian national company Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line, built in 2000 at the South Korean shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries. Its conversion was carried out over 2,5 years (2022-2024) at the Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex (ISOICO) shipyard located near Bandar Abbas, and sea trials began in November 2024.
Main performance characteristics of the C-110-4 "Shahid Bahman Bagheri"
(approximate, based mainly on Perarin data)
Maximum length, m - 240,2
Width, m — 32,2
Draft, m - 11,7
Full displacement, t — 41
Speed, knots - 22
Cruising range (18 knots), nautical miles - 22
Main engine power: 20 kW
The main power plant type is single-shaft with a MAN B&W diesel engine type 8S70MC-C.
As a result of the refit, the ship received a 180-meter long angled flight deck with a 20-degree ski-jump, a below-deck hangar, an aircraft elevator, at least three ammunition elevators and the ability to accommodate and use up to 60 aerial drones of various types, as well as surface and underwater Drones (up to 30 units), helicopters, small high-speed attack boats. The ship is also equipped with artillery weapons, missile systems of various types, including cruise missiles and short- and medium-range air defense systems, EW and electronic intelligence. Naturally, the Iranian authorities keep the full information secret.
Trampoline. Artillery mount and SAM system are visible
The flight deck has an unusual configuration for aircraft carriers, due to the presence of the aft superstructure, and is located on the left at an angle of about 20 degrees to the centerline.
"Shahid Bahman Bagheri", view from above
On board the “drone carrier” were demonstrated reconnaissance and strike UAVs of several types: jet stealth drones JAS-313 and propeller-driven Mohajer-6, Ababil-3N, Homa (with vertical takeoff and landing).
Augusta-Bell 206 helicopters and JAS-313 UAVs
JAS-313 UAV taking off
UAV Homa
Mohajer-6
Ababil-3N
The JAS-313 jet drones are a scaled-down version of the Qaher-313 manned aircraft. Two versions of the drone were seen on board the C-110-4, one 60% and one 25% the size of the prototype aircraft.
Manned Qaher-313
JAS-313 of two types are visible
The Shahid Bahman Bagheri can also accommodate Mi-171 and Augusta-Bell 206 helicopters.
Mi-171 helicopters
In addition to drones and helicopters, the ship is armed with small high-speed boats, which are lowered and raised using lifts through the side ports. These boats are armed with multi-purpose (can be used against both air and surface targets) Kowsar-222 missiles with a range of up to 17 km or Kowsar-200 (5-7 km). The possibility of deploying Zulficar-type boats developed in the DPRK, a kind of symbiosis of a high-speed boat with additional torpedo armament and a midget submarine, is also possible. Two Korean boats were delivered to Iran in 2002, and were subsequently produced there independently.
A boat with Kowsar missiles on a launching and recovery device
Launch of the Kowsar rocket
Diving boat "Zulficar"
Photos and videos of the Shahid Bahman Bagheri released by Iranian media show at least eight Kowsar-222 SAM launchers and eight anti-ship cruise missile launchers. The ship may also be armed with Zolfaqar Basir ballistic missiles with a range of 700 km, Qadr-474 cruise missiles with a range of up to 2000 km, and medium-range SAMs.
SAM Kowsar-222
View from above. Cruise missile launchers are visible behind the superstructure.
Hospital
Football field
The ship has a well-equipped hospital, a large gym and even... a football field.
Information