By Boaz Shapira
On February 6, Iran officially presented the “Shahid Behman Bagheri” (C-110-4), its first domestically produced drone carrier.
The inauguration ceremony, attended by Iran's Chief of General Staff and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), included a display of various unmanned aerial vehicles [drones], helicopters and additional systems on board the ship.
The ship's defining feature is a specialized 180-meter-long angled deck, which allows for the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles of different sizes.
At 240 metres in length, it is the largest ship in service of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, along with the Shahid Mahdavi (C-110-3).
Originally built as a container ship in 2000 by Hyundai Shipyard in South Korea, the Bagheri previously operated under the names Silver Craft, Iran Kerman and Perarin.
The conversion of the vessel began in 2022 at the ISOICO shipyard near Bandar Abbas, with sea trials commencing in late 2024.
As previously detailed in our special report on the IRGC Navy last year, the Bagheri is part of a broader Iranian project to convert civilian vessels for military applications, including logistics, intelligence and forward operations bases.
While Iran has demonstrated its ability to launch UAVs from ships in the past, the Bagheri is the first vessel specifically designed for this role, featuring a dedicated runway and arresting gear for UAV landings, as well as lower deck hangers and additional equipment.
A range of UAVs were displayed during the presentation, including the Mohajer-6 (armed with Almas missiles), the Ababil-3, the Qaher 313, Homa prototypes and others.
Notably, some UAVs on display on deck appeared to be equipped with tail hooks for wire-to-wire landings on short runways.
Photographs and videos of the launch reveal that the UAVs are stored in hangars below deck and brought up to the flight deck via a hydraulic lift.
Additionally, an enclosed hangar-like structure appears to have been installed behind the ship's bridge, likely for storage and maintenance.
In addition to its UAV and helicopter deployment capabilities, the Bagheri possesses a range of additional operational features.
The ship is armed with several missile launchers carrying cruise and anti-ship missiles of the Noor, Qader and Ghadir families, as well as several cannons, probably of 20 mm and 30 mm caliber.
The images suggest the ship has the capability to carry and deploy armed fast attack boats, mini-submarines or other submersible vessels.
According to the IRGC Navy commander, the Bagheri is also equipped with air defense systems, intelligence gathering platforms and advanced communications technology.
Additionally, onboard facilities include sports facilities, operating theatres and a dental clinic.
The combination of these capabilities, along with the ship’s commercial maritime origins, significantly enhances Iran’s “blue water” naval ambitions and its long-range operational reach and capabilities.
In practice, the Bagheri serves as a forward operating base for reconnaissance, intelligence, asymmetric warfare, logistical support and other maritime operations.
Congratulations to Iran, they have learned well from their Masters, including Israel.