Iranian media has released the first clear footage of the Shahid Bagheri, the country’s first aircraft carrier, which has been repurposed to serve as a forward base for drone operations. This vessel was built by converting the commercial container ship Perarin specifically under the oversight of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Shahid Bagheri features an angled flight deck and a ski-jump launch system, reminiscent of those found on Russian Kuznetsov Class and British Queen Elizabeth Class carriers.
New photo of IRGC drone carrier named Shahid Bahman Bagheri.
This drone carrier is converted from a merchant container ship named PERARIN (IMO: 9209350).
h/t: @Navy_Iranian pic.twitter.com/q75euWpqFK— Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) August 20, 2024
The Shahid Bagheri, now in the final stages of its conversion, is expected to facilitate long-range drone operations. The vessel’s design leverages the existing 790-foot length of the container ship, enabling the installation of a flight deck capable of launching and recovering drones. A second ship, also a converted container vessel, is expected to follow, designated as the Shahid Mahdavi.
Clear shot of the deck of the Shahid Bahman Bagheri’s flight deck in its conversion from container ship to carrier.
Relatively narrow deck. Certainly intended for UAVs.pic.twitter.com/Lp1vrPKpzf
— Aᴍɪʀ (@AmirIGM) December 25, 2023
While the conversion of commercial vessels into military platforms imposes certain limitations—particularly regarding their ability to withstand damage in combat—the IRGC appears to consider these ships sufficient for unmanned drone operations. The Shahid Bagheri’s primary mission will likely include supporting Iran’s drone operations across the Middle East.
The construction and conversion of these vessels align with Iran’s broader naval strategy, which has increasingly focused on repurposing commercial vessels for military use. The IRGC has previously used a similar strategy with the Makran, another converted vessel designed for helicopter and drone operations.
Iran presented the new unmanned aircraft carrier of the IRGC Navy “Shahid Bahman Bagheri”
The Shahid Bahman Bagheri has been converted from a container ship (formerly named Sarveen) to a UAV/drone aircraft carrier.
The ship has been modified to have a 180-metre runway, allowing… pic.twitter.com/Pgr1cSZSwt
— S p r i n t e r (@SprinterFamily) May 4, 2024
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