Iran naval forces take delivery of homegrown ‘Abu Mahdi’ cruise missile
New system to enhance Iran’s naval defense range: Minister
Iranian naval forces have taken delivery of the domestically-designed and manufactured “Abu Mahdi” long-range cruise missile, featuring state-of-the-art technologies tailored for electronic warfare capabilities.
Addressing the delivery ceremony of the system to the naval forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as the IRGC on Tuesday, the defense minister expressed his confidence that the new system would significantly enhance Iran’s naval defense range compared to previous capabilities.
Mohammadreza Ashtiani praised the long-range missile system as being of strategic importance and said that it has no equal in terms of its capabilities, IRNA quoted him as saying.
Ashtiani said that the missile, with a range of 1,000 kilometers, enjoys pinpoint accuracy and very high destruction power, can cross geographical barriers and cruise at low altitudes, is radar-evasive, can counter the enemy’s electronic warfare, and employs artificial intelligence in its flight path design software.
The development of the “Abu Mahdi” cruise missile has reportedly been developed by military experts at Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), a subsidiary of the Iranian Defense Ministry, and a leading high-tech complex headquartered in Tehran.
The acquisition of this advanced cruise missile system represents a significant milestone for the Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy, empowering them with enhanced naval defense capabilities.
It is said to be the first homegrown long-range naval cruise missile that employs artificial intelligence in the software for designing the missile’s flight path and the command-and-control systems.
The missile can penetrate into natural and artificial barriers, as well as the enemy’s radar and defense systems and strike designated targets from different directions.
Due to the incorporation of highly destructive explosive materials in its warhead, “Abu Mahdi” can destroy all types of ships, frigates, and destroyers.
“Abu Mahdi” is the first long-range naval cruise missile in Iran that uses dual-mode active and passive seekers.
The technology enables the missile to counter the enemy’s electronic warfare and increases its stealth capabilities when approaching the target and hitting it. All this happens with the enemy not having noticed the missile and missing the opportunity to give a timely response.
Its launcher can load and fire missiles in the shortest possible time and can launch several projectiles in quick succession and from different directions toward a specific target, with the missiles hitting the designated target all at once.
During the ceremony, Commander of the IRGC Navy Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri explained that if an Iranian military vessel sails 1,000 kilometers offshore and launches an “Abu Mahdi” missile, the enemy’s aircraft carrier will have to retreat at least 1,000 kilometers further away to evade the long-range naval cruise missile.
“This means that the fighter jets on board that aircraft carrier will be rendered useless,” he said.