Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Fleet Inventory 🇮🇷

The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN), along with the naval component of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGCN), constitutes Iran's naval forces. Unlike traditional navies focused on blue-water capabilities, Iran's naval strategy leans more towards asymmetric warfare, particularly in the strategically critical Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Given Iran's geopolitical stance and ongoing tensions with the United States and its regional allies, the navy serves as a vital tool in Tehran's military and strategic toolkit.

The IRIN operates a mix of older, often domestically modified, surface vessels such as frigates and corvettes, alongside an array of smaller fast-attack crafts. While these ships lack the technological sophistication of their Western or East Asian counterparts, they are designed for operations in the confined and shallow waters of the Persian Gulf. The IRGCN complements this capability with an even larger fleet of small boats equipped with anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and naval mines, aiming to overwhelm adversaries through swarm tactics.

Submarines play a unique role in Iran's naval capabilities. Iran has a few classes of submarines, including the domestically-produced Ghadir-class midget submarines. These vessels are suited for shallow-water operations and are armed with torpedoes. Though not game-changers by themselves, in a cluttered maritime environment, they could pose a credible threat to larger naval vessels.

Iran has invested considerably in its missile capabilities, developing a variety of anti-ship missiles, some of which are shore-based. These systems can target vessels at significant distances, furthering Iran's strategy of area denial in its adjacent waters. Naval mines are another area where Iran has developed capability, offering a cost-effective way to disrupt maritime traffic in chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.

However, Iran's navy has its limitations. Its ships are generally outdated and would likely struggle against a technologically superior adversary in conventional naval warfare. The focus on asymmetric tactics is born out of necessity rather than choice, reflecting the navy's limitations in force projection and blue-water operations.

Key facts

Number of active ships by category