Top Iranian military officials attended a ceremony in the southern port of Bandar Abbas where the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy received a number of new military equipment and systems on Saturday.

Heading the new lineup was the Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis vessel, a corvette-type vessel with a catamaran design, showcasing advanced radar-evading technologies.

Named in honor of the former deputy head of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units, martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was assassinated alongside Lieutenant General martyr Qassem Soleimani in a 2020 US drone strike, the vessel boasts a naval endurance of 14 days.

Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the IRGC Navy chief, emphasized the vessel's ability to cruise within a 2,000 nautical-mile radius undetected by enemy radars and reconnaissance systems.

Tangsiri highlighted the collaborative efforts of three domestic knowledge-based companies in the development of the Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, underscoring its significance as a stealth vessel. The vessel's innovative Catamaran design, coupled with its four homegrown propulsion systems, enables it to navigate under force six conditions and execute naval missions under force five conditions.

Displaying Iran's advanced naval production capabilities, Tangsiri announced that Iranian specialists within the IRGC Navy are set to manufacture at least three warships of the same class within a year.

Notably, the Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis unveiling follows the introduction of a similar stealth vessel named Shahid Soleimani in the same area. The IRGC Navy's strategic focus on stealth capabilities is evident, as both vessels showcase advanced technologies aimed at eluding enemy detection.

At the sidelines of the ceremony, Major General Hossein Salami, the chief of the IRGC, warned potential adversaries to keep their distance from Iran. He emphasized the IRGC Navy's pivotal role as a pioneer in Iran's defense power, boasting significant offensive and defensive capabilities against global naval powers.

The IRGC Navy's expansion also included the induction of 100 fast-attack crafts, including Tareq-class and Ashura-class vessels armed with Kowsar medium-range and anti-ship missiles. Tangsiri revealed that Tareq-class vessels, previously limited to firing rockets, can now launch missiles with a range of 180 kilometers. The Ashura vessels are equipped with Kowsar missiles and three-dimensional radars capable of detecting and intercepting hostile planes, helicopters, and cruise missiles at high altitudes. 

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