Iran to expand its Caspian Fleet with new submarine

Iran is planning to expand its Caspian fleet with the addition of a new submarine by the second quarter of 2015.

Being built in collaboration with a Chinese firm at the Anzali shipyard, the 50m long submarine will be operated by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

In April, the Caspian Five nations including Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan observed considerable progress during a round of talks on the decision of the legal status of the Caspian Sea, the News.Az reported.

Recently, IRGC equipped its speed vessels with advanced radars and telecommunications systems as part of efforts to attain self-sufficiency.

IRGC has also received a simulator for its domestic designed and manufactured Ashura-class boats, which is claimed to simulate situations on water, in addition to weather conditions and rocket launches.

Further, the Iranian Armed Forces would take the delivery of two radar systems to boost defensive surveillance, which would help them carryout high-altitude air surveillance.

Iran has also built one x-ray lamp and a five-litre oxygen converter for the cockpit, in addition to a new smart disruptive radar system that can jam diverse radar waves as well as some of the missile guidance subsystems.