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Introduction — Nov 29, 2015

Qadir missile

Qadir missile

Although it hasn’t been too widely publicised, Iran has developed the capability to fire submarine launched cruise missiles.
The first reports of such an ability appeared in 2006, nearly a decade ago and Iran has undoubtedly developed the capacity still further.
Earlier this year that ability was put on display during naval drills in the Persian Gulf. Shown in the video below, Iran has a small but growing squadron of medium sized, or as it calls them “semi-heavy”, submarines capable of firing such missiles.
Unlike its surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, Iran has sought to play down its submarines but it has more than the mini-submarines that have been publicised thus far.
Iran is also thought to possess two locally developed Besat submarines, which are comparable to Israel’s Dolphin submarines and capable of firing cruise missiles. In addition it also has two Fateh submarine, which have also been described as “semi heavy submarines” although it is uncertain if they could fire the Qadir missile.
With a range of 300 kilometres the Qadir is more accurately described as a medium range missile, rather than long-range. Nonetheless, it should give U.S. and Israeli naval commanders serious pause for thought given that it can be fired from a variety of platforms: including helicopters, jets, frigates and fast attack boats, truck mounted launchers and submarines.
Meaning that if Iran ever decides to close the Straits of Hormuz, and effectively block the West’s oil lifeline, Iran will have plenty of options with which to close the waterway. Ed.

Iranian Navy Submarines Equipped with Capability to Fire Long-Range Qadir Cruise Missiles

Fars News — Nov 29, 2015

Qadir missiles. Click to enlarge

Qadir missiles. Click to enlarge

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced that the country’s submarines have been equipped with the capability to fire home-made long-range Qadir cruise missiles.

“The missiles that we are using today are good and proper missiles to fulfill different missions, including coast-to-sea or surface-to-surface missions, or to be fired from a vessel or by submarines,” Sayyari said, addressing a ceremony to mark delivery of a large number of high-precision and long-range Qadir cruise missiles from the defense ministry to the Navy on Sunday.

Earlier this year, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched the production line of ‘Qadir’ cruise missiles in a ceremony participated by Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan and other high-ranking Iranian commanders.

Addressing the ceremony, Dehqan said Qadir missiles can be rapidly deployed to show reaction in a short time, while they enjoy other capabilities such as low flying altitude, high navigation precision, high targeting precision, high destruction power, highly advanced anti-electronic warfare and anti-jamming systems, advanced radar systems and the capability of being fired from different types of vessels and helicopters.

Stressing that the Iranian defense ministry stands atop the region in manufacturing different types of home-made missiles, he said, “The high precision, rapid reaction and high quality of these important products have incredibly increased the Armed Forces’ combat power in the sky, sea and ground.”

Continues …