Iranian destroyer’s cruise missile power quadrupled
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Sabalan breaks its own record as the Iranian Navy’s destroyer with the most anti-ship cruise missiles.
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Iranian Navy's Sabalan destroyer, undated (IRNA)
The Iranian Navy's Sabalan destroyer has surpassed its previous record for carrying the highest number of cruise missiles, according to Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani.
Speaking to Tasnim, Irani revealed that the missile capabilities of the Sabalan have quadrupled, both in variety and range, compared to its original configuration.
He added that the destroyer is now equipped with 16 anti-ship cruise missiles. The general noted that the upgraded version of the military vessel will be unveiled soon.
Weighing 1,500 tons, the Sabalan was initially equipped with just four ‘Qader’ and ‘Qadir’ cruise missiles.
An Alvand-class warship, the destroyer has participated in numerous overseas missions as part of the Iranian Navy's flotillas.
Sabalan is believed to be equipped with a new long-range strategic cruise missile, named after Iraqi Resistance commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, which the Iranian Navy received in July 2023.
With a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers, this domestically developed missile significantly extends Iran's naval defense capabilities, expanding the coverage area and enhancing the operational range of Navy units.
The missile, described as the first long-range naval cruise missile with artificial intelligence integrated into its trajectory guidance and command-and-control systems, is capable of flying at low altitudes to evade radar detection. It can also adjust its course and altitude mid-flight, enhancing its maneuverability and effectiveness.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
