Iran's Revolutionary Guards have taken delivery of its first locally developed drone aircraft carrier

Iran's newly developed Shahid Bagheri unmanned aircraft carrier has officially joined the naval fleet of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The drone carrier, in addition to carrying drones and helicopters, is also capable of launching long-range missiles.

The drone carrier, the Martyr Bahman Bagheri, is 240 meters long, 21 meters high and has a runway 180 meters long, Xinhua News Agency quoted Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency as saying. It was delivered to the naval fleet of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the southern port of Bandar Abbas on Thursday (February 6). The drone carrier can carry multiple drone formations with different functions and is capable of launching, recovering, and operating a variety of reconnaissance and combat drones.

Mohammad Baqeri, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed forces, said at the delivery ceremony that at present, more than 90 percent of Iran's military equipment is domestically developed and produced.

Admiral Alireza Tangesiri, commander of the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran, said that the Shahid Bagheri is an important step for Iran to strengthen its defense and deterrence capability in the far-sea region and help safeguard its national interests.