Iran to equip its Moudge-class frigates with Abu Mahdi cruise missiles.

According to information published by Tasnim News on October 25, 2022, the commander of the Iranian Navy, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, said the Iranian Navy’s frigates are going to be equipped with Abu Mahdi cruise missiles and other missiles with greater ranges.
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Iranian Moudge-class frigate Sahand. (Picture source: 2021.f.a0z.ru)

The commander also stated that the Navy has doubled the capacity for using surface-to-surface cruise missiles and that its destroyers will be furnished with eight cruise missile launchers.

The naval destroyers have also been equipped with ‘Navvab’ mid-range surface-to-air missile system, he noted, adding that the homegrown Moudge-class frigate Sahand and other ones have been armed with point-defense systems.

The admiral further stated that the sonar systems of the Iranian submarines have been significantly upgraded. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Navy chief expressed hope that the Moudge-class frigate Damavand would join the naval fleet on November 28.

About the Abu Mahdi cruise missile

Abu Mahdi missile, complete name: "Shahid (Martyr) Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis missile", is an Iranian naval cruise missile that was made by the Ministry of Defense of Iran; This missile has a range of over 1000 km.

Abu-Mahdi (missile) whose name has been retrieved from Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was simultaneously unveiled with the Haj-Qasem Soleimani missile on 20 August 2020. This missile is capable to be launched by diverse types of sea, land, and air platforms toward the targets of it.

Among the most significant features of the Abu-Mahdi missile is related to its range which has been increased triple in comparison with the strongest Iran-made naval cruise missile that means: before the unveiling of Abu-Mahdi, the most long-range Iranian cruise missiles consisted of "Raad missile" with a range of 350 km and "Qadir missile" whose range is 300 kilometers.

It has been reported that this missile is similar to the Hoveyzeh missile in appearance. The engine which has been used in the "Abu-Mahdi missile" is a turbojet engine that is among the family of Tolou', that possesses a long history of operation in "Karar drones" and cruise missiles of the family of "Noor, Qader, and Qadir".

On the other hand, possessing the capability to control the thrust of this kind of engine, the type of its wings, and having the necessary fuel that is placed in the larger body of the new cruise missile, have made this Iranian missile to be able to fly at different speed ranges.