# IRIS Shahid Bagheri

The IRIS Shahid Bagheri is a drone carrier operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy. It is the result of the 2022–2024 conversion of the container ship Perarin, to which was added an angled flightdeck with a ski-jump, in the manner of light aircraft carriers. It is named after Shahid (martyr) Bahman Bagheri, an IRGC commander who died in Pathak, Iraq, in a clash of the Iran–Iraq war.
The ship is the first full-service UAV carrier of the IRGC Navy. It was launched at sea for the first sea trials from her home port of Bandar Abbas sometime around 28 November 2024. Her launch underscored Tehran's efforts to project its power overseas, far beyond nearby waters.
It was commissioned on 6 February 2025.

## History

Shahid Bagheri (C-110-4) was previously the container ship Perarin (IMO number: 9209350) from South Korea. The conversion was first spotted on 3 January 2023 in an Iranian dockyard. The most notable feature was an angled flight deck being constructed. It was not until 21 August 2024, when the first clear images of the aircraft carrier were posted on Telegram and then to Twitter. These posts quickly went viral with many different defense experts comparing the design to HMS Furious. The carrier became viral once again because of reports of Iranian drones off the coast of New Jersey. Representative Jeff Van Drew, a member of the United States Congress' House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, claimed that Iran was operating a drone mother ship off the coast of New Jersey, however, the same day, multiple images of Shadid Bagheri off the coast of Iran was revealed, proving that the carrier was still busy with sea trials.

### Operational history

Sea trials for Shahid Bagheri began on 13 November 2024 leaving Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex, just west of the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. The full reveal of the ship took place on 6 February 2025, showing a full flight deck of Ababil-3N carrier drones, new stealth drones called the JAS-313, Bell 206 helicopters, Mi-171 helicopters, Homa VTOL drones and a Mohajer-6 drone. A fully working hospital was revealed as well. The carrier has a fully functioning soccer field. The carrier has the ability to deploy over 30 fast attack craft from inside the ship. This would be the first fixed-wing drone carrier ever made specifically for drones. Footage broadcast by Iranian state TV on the inauguration showed at least four helicopters and three drones on the warship's flight deck.
Chief of the IRGC, General Hossein Salami, said at the ceremony that the warship can travel "independently" at sea for up to one year. The report said the ship also has a hospital and facilities such as a gym for its crew. According to limited open-source information, the carrier is capable of deploying various types of small unmanned aerial vehicles and air defense missiles. It is reportedly equipped with short- and medium-range air defense systems, intelligence-gathering equipment, and a flight control tower. In addition to featuring ESM and SIGINT capabilities, Admiral Tangsiri stated at the ceremony that the carrier can also deploy and operate "guided subsurface vessels."

## Seagoing power

According to Alireza Tangsiri, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, the vessel, with seaworthiness up to Force 9 (oceans) and an operational range of 22,000 nautical miles (41,000 km; 25,000 mi) (offshore), enables presence and operations for a year without the need for refueling in distant waters. With a 180-meter-long runway for drones, the vessel can travel up to 22,000 nautical miles without needing to refuel in ports. The report said it was converted from a commercial ship and would increase Iran’s power of deterrence. The ship is also equipped with eight cruise anti-ship missiles, eight multipurpose Kowsar-222 missiles, a turret with a 30mm automatic cannon, two 20mm Gatling-type cannons (unconfirmed) and two RC turrets with 20mm Gatling-type cannons

## Other specifications

Shahid Bagheri was built in two years and is equipped with a drone fueling station, a floatplane and helicopters, short and medium-range air defense systems, intelligence equipment, and a flight control tower. Other features include the ability to carry and use various types of drones, guided subsurface vessels, the ability to identify various types of electronic signals - electronic warfare - full SIGINT, long-range surface-to-surface cannons and weapons, long-range surface-to-surface cruise missiles, the ability to deal with various types of small aircraft and air defense missiles, and is equipped with a runway 180-metre (590 ft 7 in) long.