Although the IRGCN has significantly upgraded its fleet in terms of size and lethality since the end of the Iran-Iraq War, it remains a force composed of smaller platforms. It employs an asymmetric doctrine that emphasizes speed, mobility, large numbers, surprise, and survivability and takes advantage of Iran’s geography with the shallow and confined waterways of the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. The IRGCN, which comprises approximately 20,000 personnel, is tasked with protecting primarily the Iranian littoral. The event usually entails a series of naval manoeuvres involving IRIN surface combatants, submarines, and CDCM forces. The IRIN typically conducts a major national-level exercise each year called VELAYAT. Iran continues to invest in domestically developing and producing more-capable subsurface platforms, including larger coastal submarines. Iran acquired three Russian Kilo-class attack submarines in the 1990s and began domestically producing North Korean Yono class midget submarines in the mid-2000s. Despite its need for new auxiliaries, Iran has given no indication it is planning to invest in acquiring new support vessels. Iran has been able to domestically build corvettes and patrol boats for the IRIN and upgrade legacy platforms with new capabilities, including antiship cruise missiles (ASCMs). If the IRIN is to fulfil its longer-term ambitions to function as a true blue-water navy, it will have to invest in more modern combatants and support ships. Since 2009, the IRIN has maintained near-continuous out-of-area naval deployments for counterpiracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, foreign port visits, and bilateral exercises with regional navies.ĭespite its ageing platforms, the IRIN has been moderately effective in maintaining readiness and sustaining operations. One of the IRIN’s key missions is to conduct out-of-area operations and naval diplomacy in the region and beyond. 4th ND: Headquartered at Bandar Anzali (Caspian Sea) IRIN Order of Battle Class.3rd ND: Headquartered at Chah Bahar (Gulf of Oman).2nd ND: Headquartered at Bushehr (Persian Gulf) and Jask (Gulf of Oman) 2nd ND HQ moving to Jask following 2007 reorganization.1st ND: Headquartered at Bandar Abbas (Strait of Hormuz) also the location of the IRIN’s Southern Forward Naval Head quarters (SFNHQ), which coordinates across all southern IRIN NDs.The IRIN is geographically divided into four NDs, with the central IRIN headquarters in Tehran. The IRIN also aims to secure Iranian economic interests by safeguarding the flow of commerce in the region from piracy and interdiction. The IRIN is Iran’s first line of defense in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. As part of Iran’s layered maritime defenses, the IRIN provides antisurface warfare capabilities focused on the Gulf of Oman with coastal defense cruise missiles (CDCMs), naval mines, surface combatants, and submarines. It consists of primarily older, small surface combatants along with mostly small submarines and some logistic support vessels. The service’s primary mission is to defend Iranian territorial waters and protect the country’s economic interests in the Caspian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and beyond. Iran is the only Persian Gulf nation with a submarine force, which the IRIN operates. The IRIN comprises approximately 18,000 personnel and is considered Iran’s “blue water navy” with its larger and more traditional surface ships compared with the IRGCN. ![]() The reorganization also provided the IRIN with a greater mandate to operate farther from the With the added responsibility, the IRGCN established two new naval districts (NDs) in the central and southern Persian Gulf. The geographic split helped stream line command and control (C2) while reducing confusion, miscommunication, and duplication of efforts. Both services continued to share responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz. ![]() ![]() ![]() In 2007, the two naval forces reorganized, and Iran assigned specific areas of operation for each.Tehran assigned the IRGCN sole responsibility for the Persian Gulf and assigned the IRIN the Gulf of Oman and Caspian Sea. Iranian Naval Headquarters and Areas of Responsibility The commander of the IRIN is Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, and the commander of the IRGCN is Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri. Iran established the IRGCN in 1985 the IRIN existed as part of the Artesh before the 1979 revolution. Iran operates two independent naval forces-the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN), the Artesh’s naval branch, and the IRGC Navy (IRGCN). Moudge Class Frigate Jamaran 76 The information in this article is based on US Defense Intelligence Agency's Iran Military Power Report.
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