Exclusive: Iranian Navy commissions fourth Shahid Soleimani-class missile corvette Shahid Raees Ali Delvari.

On February 27, 2025, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy commissioned the Shahid Raees Ali Delvari missile corvette into its fleet during a ceremony in Bandar Abbas. The vessel, the fourth in the Shahid Soleimani class, is designed for missile warfare, coastal defense, and rapid response operations. During the event, the IRGC also introduced multiple high-speed missile boats, and officials provided statements on the navy’s development and upcoming exercises.
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The fourth Shahid Soleimani-class missile corvette, the Shahid Raees Ali Delvari, was commissioned during a ceremony in Bandar Abbas by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, which also introduced multiple high-speed missile boats. (Picture source: IRGC)

The Shahid Raees Ali Delvari, also known as Shahid Delvari or Ra'is-Ali Delvari, measures 67 meters in length and 20 meters in width. It features a catamaran hull structure designed to enhance stability and reduce radar cross-section. The vessel has a maximum speed of 32 knots and an operational range of 5,000 nautical miles. It is equipped with vertical launch systems for cruise missiles, including those with a range of 750 kilometers developed by the IRGC Navy and 300-kilometer-range missiles produced by the Ministry of Defense. Additionally, it is designed to carry helicopters and fast attack boats, which are housed in an internal hangar. The vessel is also equipped with automatic machine guns and laser tracking systems.

During the same ceremony, the IRGC Navy unveiled multiple fast missile-launching vessels. The Haidar 110 is a 14-meter-long vessel with a width of 4.3 meters and a height of 2.8 meters. It has a range of 350 nautical miles, a top speed of 110 knots, and is armed with two medium-range cruise missiles. The Tariq vessel measures 13 meters in length and 3.8 meters in width, has a speed of 90 knots, a range of 500 nautical miles, and features a double-hull structure for stability. It is also equipped with two medium-range missiles. The Somar vessel, constructed using carbon fiber, is 16 meters long, reaches speeds of 80 knots, and is designed to fire missiles while in motion. Additionally, the Tariq air defense ship is equipped with Kowsar 222 missiles and has a length of 12 meters, a width of 2.6 meters, a speed of 92 km/h, and an operational range of 300 nautical miles.

Brigadier General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, stated that military strength is necessary to maintain security and that naval capabilities are a key component of this approach. He emphasized that the development of these vessels is part of broader efforts to enhance maritime defense. Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, Commander of the IRGC Navy, stated that the new vessels were designed domestically, with contributions from knowledge-based companies and research organizations. He noted that many engineers involved in the development process were under the age of 35. He also mentioned that the IRGC has developed carbon fiber production capabilities for naval applications.

The Shahid Soleimani-class missile corvettes are the principal surface combatant ships of the IRGC Navy, designed for missile warfare, coastal defense, and rapid response operations. These corvettes are intended to operate in contested waters, carrying anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles while supporting helicopter operations and fast attack boat deployment. They are being produced at the Shahid Mahallati Marine Industrial Institute in Bushehr and feature a catamaran hull, aluminum construction, and reduced radar cross-section. The vessels are armed with four 300-kilometer-range Ghader cruise missiles and two 90-kilometer-range Nasir cruise missiles, along with a 30mm autocannon, six 20mm Gatling guns, and chaff dispensers. Radar and electronic warfare capabilities include dual-mode S-band and X-band radars.

Four vessels in the Shahid Soleimani class have been commissioned, with plans for additional ships. Admiral Tangsiri has stated that one vessel from this class will be added to the IRGC Navy each year. The class has an operational range of 5,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 32 knots, and its design allows for the integration of multiple weapon systems. Like the new Shahid Bagheri drone carrier, these corvettes are intended to provide the IRGC Navy with long-range strike capabilities and enhanced maritime operations in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.

The first vessel of the Shahid Soleimani-class missile corvette, the Shahid Soleimani, was unveiled in 2022, and represents the principal surface combatant ship of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. (Picture source: Iranian media)