On February 6, 2025, Iran unveiled its latest naval innovation, the drone carrier SHAHID BAHMAN BAGHERI, commonly referred to as SHAHID BAGHERI. The ceremony, held in Bandar Abbas and presided over by Admiral Alireza Tangsiri of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC Navy), marked a significant milestone in Iran’s maritime strategy.

This vessel, a converted container ship originally built 25 years ago in South Korea, has been transformed into a versatile drone carrier with an operational range of 22,000 miles (40,750km) — capable of year-long missions without refuelling. However, while the SHAHID BAGHERI represents a bold leap in naval capabilities for Iran, it also highlights the challenges and limitations inherent in retrofitting commercial vessels for military purposes.

The SHAHID BAGHERI began its life as the container ship PERARIN, constructed at Hyundai’s Ulsan shipyards. Powered by a MAN B&W Type 8 S70 MCC diesel engine with a maximum output of 24,500 kW, the ship retains its original dimensions: over 240 m in length, 32 m in width, and a displacement of approximately 42,000 t. Between 2022 and 2024, Iranian engineers undertook extensive modifications to repurpose the vessel for military use. Despite maintaining much of its original structure—including the superstructure concentrated near the stern—the transformation incorporated a flight deck extending from the superstructure to the bow. This deck features a 180 m take-off runway equipped with a ski-jump and an angled section for drone operations.

The design reflects both ingenuity and compromise. The flight deck allows for take-off and landing operations of fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and manned or unmanned helicopters, though these operations cannot occur simultaneously. The aft area includes a small platform for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones or rotary-wing UAVs. However, the placement of the superstructure disrupts continuity between the flight deck and aft platform, limiting operational fluidity.

Additionally, while the ship features an elevator to transport drones between the flight deck and an internal hangar, its size restricts it to handling smaller UAVs rather than larger helicopters like the Mi-171. The vessel’s primary innovation lies in its ability to deploy various UAV models, including reconnaissance and attack drones such as the MOHAJER-6, ABABIL-3, HOMA VTOLs, and JAS-313s. Notably, the JAS-313 drones come as scaled-down versions of Iran’s QAHER-313 light fighter project. The smaller "mini" variants allow for higher storage capacity within the ship’s hangar. During its unveiling ceremony, Iranian state media showcased these drones’ conducting take-off and landing operations from the ski-jump-equipped runway. The ABABIL-3 drone was also seen armed with air-to-surface missiles, suggesting potential strike capabilities against naval or land targets.

Beyond aerial assets, SHAHID BAGHERI incorporates systems for deploying surface and underwater drones (USVs and UUVs). A recessed area on the starboard side houses a hinged hatch for launching these assets or even small armed speedboats. Inside its hull, converted spaces accommodate fuel tanks for drone operations, ammunition depots, maintenance workshops, spare parts storage, crew recreation areas, and even a hospital.

The ship is also equipped with defensive systems to enhance survivability. These include surface-to-air missiles for short- and medium-range defence—likely housed in vertical launch systems near the bow—and anti-ship missiles located aft of the superstructure. Visible armaments include two KOWSAR missile launchers near the ski-jump and a remote-controlled 30mm point-defence system forward of the flight deck.

Despite these advancements, several limitations constrain SHAHID BAGHERI’S operational effectiveness. Its origins as a commercial vessel impose structural vulnerabilities that are difficult to overcome. With a maximum speed of just 20 knots— significantly slower than most modern warships — the vessel would struggle to evade enemy threats in high-intensity conflict scenarios. Additionally, its large size and relatively modest defensive capabilities make it an easy target for advanced adversaries. Within the confined waters of the Persian Gulf — where Iran can leverage other asymmetrical assets such as coastal missile batteries and fast attack craft — the SHAHID BAGHERI could play a valuable role in surveillance or limited offensive operations against commercial shipping or poorly defended military targets. However, deploying it beyond these waters would expose it to greater risks from more capable naval forces equipped with advanced anti-ship weaponry.

Admiral Tangsiri emphasized that SHAHID BAGHERI represents a strategic asset designed to bolster Iran’s deterrence capabilities even in distant waters. Yet this ambition must be tempered by practical considerations. While it showcases Iran’s ability to innovate under technological constraints — transforming civilian platforms into military assets - it also underscores the inherent trade-offs of such conversions.

In conclusion, SHAHID BAGHERI is emblematic of Iran’s broader strategy of asymmetrical warfare: leveraging unconventional solutions to counterbalance conventional disadvantages against technologically superior adversaries like the United States or its regional allies. While its utility may be limited in direct confrontations with advanced naval forces, its presence signals Iran’s intent to project power and disrupt adversaries’ operations within its sphere of influence. Whether this gamble pays off will depend on how effectively Tehran integrates this platform into its broader maritime strategy—and how prepared its adversaries are to counter it.

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