Satellite imagery reveals that Iran launched the construction of its biggest missile-armed warship to date.

On April 22, 2025, Arma and Iranian Military Magazine reported the ongoing construction of a new large catamaran warship at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy’s facilities in Bandar Bahonar, southern Iran. This vessel, reportedly larger and more heavily armed than the existing Shahid Soleimani-class corvettes, marks a notable development in the maritime capabilities of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N). Although its final mission profile has not yet been officially detailed, the ship’s size and shape suggest extended operational range and increased payload capacity compared to previously built IRGC vessels.
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With dimensions of 77 meters in length and 24 to 27 meters in width, it exceeds those of the current Shahid Soleimani-class (65 meters long, 14.5 meters wide) and is designed with a catamaran hull configuration. (Picture source: Google Earth via Twitter/@A_rain_soldier)

The Shahid Soleimani-class missile corvettes are currently the principal surface combatant vessels of the IRGC Navy. These ships are built at multiple domestic shipyards including Shahid Mahallati in Bushehr, Qeshm Island, and Bandar Abbas. The design uses aluminum hull construction to reduce weight and radar cross-section, and follows a catamaran layout with sharp angles intended to reduce detectability by radar systems. The lead ship, Shahid Soleimani (hull number FS313-01), was launched in 2022 and was followed by Hassan Baqeri (FS313-02) and Sayyad Shirazi (FS313-03) in 2024. The most recent ship of the class, Shahid Raees Ali Delvari (FS313-04), was commissioned in February 2025. Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, Commander of the IRGC Navy, has stated that one vessel of this class is scheduled to be commissioned annually.

Each Shahid Soleimani-class corvette is designed for coastal defense, missile engagement, and long-range maritime operations. Their propulsion is provided by four indigenously developed diesel engines, delivering a top speed of 32 knots and an operational range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 kilometers). The ships can deploy up to three fast attack boats from a below-deck hangar using an onboard crane system, and are equipped with a helipad capable of supporting one Bell-412 helicopter. These vessels are also designed to support vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles.

The vessels are equipped with a combination of surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles. Each carries six anti-ship cruise missiles, including four long-range Ghader (estimated 300 km) and two mid-range Nasir (estimated 90 km) missiles. In addition, six vertical launch system (VLS) cells are installed for surface-to-surface cruise missiles and sixteen VLS cells for surface-to-air missiles. These air-defense missiles are reportedly of the Sayad and Navvab types, including Sayad-2, Sayad-3, and the shorter-range Navvab variant. Commander Tangsiri also confirmed that the Shahid Soleimani-class is equipped with missiles of various ranges—200, 300, 750, and the recently revealed Ghadr-474 cruise missile with a 2,000 km range.

Additional armaments on the Shahid Soleimani-class include one 30 mm automatic cannon, four or six 20 mm Gatling guns, and two chaff dispensers intended for electronic countermeasures. These vessels also carry advanced sensors and fire-control radars, although final radar installations on some units are pending. They are equipped with Iranian-developed electronic warfare systems capable of reconnaissance, surface and subsurface target monitoring, and air traffic surveillance.

The lead vessel of the class, Shahid Soleimani, was built using 20,000 design maps and 100,000 design elements. Construction time for each vessel has reportedly been reduced to approximately one year. Statements by Iranian defense officials indicate that the vessels were developed using domestic technical expertise and involved contributions from the Ministry of Defense, IRGC engineers, the Iranian Army, knowledge-based companies, and university research institutions. Facilities have also been incorporated on board for crew accommodation and medical support. The hull design uses aluminum alloys for weight reduction and corrosion resistance, increasing range and durability.

The Shahid Soleimani-class missile corvettes use aluminum hull construction to reduce weight and radar cross-section, and follow a catamaran layout with sharp angles intended to reduce detectability by radar systems. (Picture source: Iranian MoD)

The Shahid Raees Ali Delvari (FS313-04), commissioned in 2025, is reported to be 67 meters long and 20 meters wide. It incorporates a catamaran hull for increased stability and reduced radar signature, and retains a top speed of 32 knots and a 5,000 nautical mile range. According to available sources, the vessel is equipped with multiple vertical missile launchers for both cruise and air-defense missiles, and includes hangar space for helicopters and fast boats. It is also fitted with automatic machine guns and laser tracking systems.

During the same February 2025 ceremony in Bandar Abbas, the IRGC Navy introduced several new fast missile-launching boats. The Haidar 110 is 14 meters long, 4.3 meters wide, and 2.8 meters tall, capable of reaching 110 knots and a range of 350 nautical miles. It carries two medium-range cruise missiles. The Tariq vessel measures 13 meters in length and 3.8 meters in width, with a speed of 90 knots and a range of 500 nautical miles. It features a double-hull for enhanced stability and is armed with two medium-range missiles. The Somar vessel, constructed from carbon fiber, is 16 meters long and has a top speed of 80 knots. It is designed to launch missiles while underway. Another vessel, the Tariq air defense variant, measures 12 meters in length, 2.6 meters in width, has a top speed of 92 km/h and a range of 300 nautical miles, and is equipped with Kowsar-222 air-defense missiles.

The Shahid Soleimani-class ships differ significantly from the earlier Shahid Nazeri, a large catamaran commissioned in 2016 and built by the Shahid Mahallati Shipyard. The Shahid Nazeri is 55 meters long, 14.1 meters wide, and uses a lightweight aluminum twin-hull (SWATH) design. It has a range of 5,400 nautical miles and a top speed of 28 knots. The ship can carry a single helicopter and up to 100 personnel. It has participated in joint drills with Russian and Chinese navies and was involved in at least one naval confrontation and one maritime seizure operation involving a Vietnamese tanker. However, its operational deployment has remained limited.

The transition from light fast-attack craft to missile corvettes represents a shift in IRGC naval doctrine. Until recently, the IRGC Navy focused on asymmetric tactics using swarms of small boats in coastal environments. The shift toward more conventional platforms, including the Shahid Soleimani-class and additional projects such as drone carriers, uncrewed underwater vehicles, and forward base ships (like IRIS Shahid Roudaki), suggests that the IRGC may be adapting its approach based on operational limitations encountered in past proxy conflicts. Specifically, Iranian support to the Houthi movement in Yemen included the use of uncrewed explosive boats, sea mines, and limpet mines, which had some tactical success but failed to achieve strategic objectives. The new, still-unnamed catamaran observed in April 2025 could represent a further evolution of the Shahid Soleimani-class or an entirely new design. It is under construction at Bandar Bahonar and is visibly larger than previous vessels in the class. Whether it will serve a combat role, act as a command ship, or be outfitted with drone or submarine integration capabilities remains to be determined.