Navy’s flotilla makes port call in India
Iranian military expands arsenal with indigenous systems
Lavan landing ship, part of the Iranian Navy’s 100th flotilla, is seen moored at Mumbai Port on the western coast of India on February 27, 2025. X
The Iranian Navy’s 100th flotilla of warships has docked at Mumbai Port on the western coast of India as the Islamic Republic is expanding its naval presence in international waters.
The flotilla, comprised of the Bushehr replenishment ship and the Lavan landing ship, arrived at the port on Thursday and was welcomed by officials from the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Mumbai as well as Indian naval commanders.
The training voyage reportedly aims to convey the message of peace and friendship to the countries along the Indian Ocean, the Sea of Oman, and the Persian Gulf. It is also meant to educate and transfer expertise to the cadets of Imam Khomeini Naval University of Noshahr in northern Iran.
Rear Admiral Vidyadhar Harke, chief staff officer (of operations) at the Headquarters of India’s Western Naval Command, welcomed the docking of Iranian vessels at Indian ports, saying: “Iran is a powerful country in the fight against piracy, and has managed to ensure the security of merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden.”
Iran unveils homegrown Masaf rifle
In a major military upgrade, Iran’s domestically produced Masaf rifle has officially replaced the decades-old G3 as the standard-issue firearm for the Army’s Ground Forces, marking a shift toward self-sufficiency in weaponry.
Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, chief of staff and deputy coordinator of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, noted that in 1974, the G3 rifle replaced the M1 Garand as the Army’s official firearm, a standard that lasted 50 years.
Army expands arsenal
The Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Force has received a range of military hardware, including super heavy tank transporters, tactical vehicles, and cutting-edge audio surveillance systems, all designed and developed by Iranian experts.
The newly inducted military equipment included semi-heavy, heavy, and super heavy military vehicles; super heavy strategic tank transporters; and armored vehicles in four different classes.
Super heavy military vehicles are among the key components of enhanced mobility of the Iranian Army’s Ground Force. The power of mobility constitutes a core element to build up military prowess.
Naval fleet grows
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has also taken delivery of a range of domestically designed and manufactured military equipment, including Martyr Rais Ali Delvari warship and dozens of fast attack craft equipped with missile launching systems.
Speaking at the ceremony, IRGC Navy chief Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said the new Iranian warship can carry three missile-launching vessels and a helicopter on board.
He said that the military vessel is currently armed with missiles developed by the Iranian Defense Ministry with a range of 300 kilometers, noting that it could be furnished with missiles with a range of 750 kilometers.