Iran Boosts Navy With Acquisition Of New Long-Range Cruise Missiles

The addition of the high precision Abu Mahdi missiles to the naval fleet will extend Iran’s ability to counter electronic warfare in the region. According to Iran's Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani “the missile system has been outfitted with cutting-edge artificial intelligence in its command-and-control systems.”

At a ceremony to mark the acquisition, which was attended by senior military officials, Ashtiani said the Abu Mahdi missile enables Iran “to counter electronic warfare tactics and adeptly evade radar systems, while also enabling it to autonomously chart its optimal flight path.”

The missile, which is domestically manufactured, is named after former Iraqi militia commander, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, who was killed in a US raid outside Baghdad's international airport in January 2020 along with former IRGC Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani.

It is designed on basis of Kh-55 cruise missiles that Iran purchased from Ukraine 20 years ago, according to military analysts.

Iran has long sought to maintain its missile program independent of US and global sanctions tied to its nuclear program. However, recent geopolitical developments, notably the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have brought the perceived threats of Iran's missile program into sharper focus for the West.

The regime continues to provide military support, including drones, to Russian forces and its proxies across the region. Iran, nevertheless, claims that its missile program is entirely geared towards deterrence, with the aim of upholding regional stability.