Iran to unveil new submarine

Sources revealed on Wednesday that Iran is building a new semi-heavy submarine equipped with highly advanced weapons.The submarine called 'Fateh' (Victor) weighs 600 tons and is equipped with various types of advanced defense systems and weapons, including several kinds of torpedoes and sea mines. According to FNA sources, Fateh which will launch operation for the Iranian Navy in coming weeks will be tasked with patrolling Iran's territorial waters and protecting the country's interests in the high seas and international waters. The submarine can dive to the depth of 200m and continue voyage for 5 weeks. The vessel has been fully designed and manufactured by Iranian experts and enjoys state of the art technologies. Late last month, Deputy Commander of the Iranian Navy for Research and Self-sufficiency Jihad Capitan Mansour Maqsoudlou announced that the Iranian Navy has a major development plan, dubbed as Velayat (religious leadership), and said manufacturing vessels and submarines of different class and type is on the agenda of the Navy based on the plan. Iran's Navy Commander Habibollah Sayyari announced in July that an Iranian submarine, called 'Younes', had completed an inaugural mission in the Southern Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Also, Iranian Navy Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Seyed Mahmoud Moussavi announced in mid June that the country plans to equip its Navy with new types of home-made submarines as part of its naval units renovation plan. "The new submarines, built by the committed Iranian experts, will join the naval combat fleet," after being tested during upcoming military exercises, he said. The drills will test the capabilities and efficiencies of the new submarines, he further explained. Rear Admiral Moussavi went on to say that the country's naval force seeks to diversify the maneuvers in order to enhance its defense potential. To achieve this aim, Iran's Navy is ready to hold joint drills with neighboring countries, he pointed out. Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran, to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes. Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country. Last August Iran launched four light and advanced submarines. The Ghadir-class submarines, made by the Defense Ministry's Marine Industries, officially joined Iran's naval fleet in an official ceremony attended by Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi and Commander of the Army's Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari. Iran announced in June 2009 that a home-made submarine, named Ghadir 948, had joined the naval brigade of the first naval zone. In November 2009, Iran announced that its first domestically built Ghadir class submarine launched operation. The Iranian military said that the submarine can easily evade detection as it is equipped with sonar-evading technology and can fire missiles and torpedoes simultaneously.