18 February 2019

Iran commissions Fateh submarine

by Jeremy Binnie

The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) officially commissioned its first indigenously developed Fateh-class submarine on 17 February.

Iran’s Fateh-class submarine seen out of the water at the Bostanu shipyard in a photograph released but not taken on 17 February. It is missing the foreplanes that were seen on its hull in previously released television footage. (Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA))

The ceremony was held at the Bandar Abbas naval base and was attended by President Hassan Rouhani. Defence Minister Amir Hatami was quoted as saying that the submarine weighs 600 tonnes and is capable of launching torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.

The Iranian media also reported that it can dive to 200 m and has an endurance of five weeks.

Photographs and television footage released for the event showed the boat out of the water at the Bostanu shipyard to the west of Bandar Abbas. It has four 533 mm torpedo tubes in its bow, but its propulsion system was covered up.

Photographs were also released showing the boat’s retractable sensors, including an electro-optical mast and what appeared to be an optical periscope. Others may include a radar and electronic intelligence sensors for target-acquisition purposes.

Some of the Fateh’s sensors are seen deployed, including an electro-optical system (left). The optical periscope located at the front of the fin/sail is not seen in this photograph. (Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA))

The existence of the Fateh-class programme was announced in September 2011, although this may have been a new name for the Qaem project announced in 2008.

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