Besat-class submarine

Class overview

Builders	Marine Industries Organization
Operators	Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
Preceded by	Fateh class
Built	2020–present
Planned	2
Building	1
General characteristics
Tonnage	1,300 t (1,400 tons)
Length	60 m (200 ft)
Propulsion	Air independent propulsion^[1]
Sensors and processing systems	Radar, Optical and Electro-optical sights
Armament	Torpedoes, Missiles (Surface-to-surface and Surface-to-air)

The Besat (Persian: بعثت, lit. 'prophetic mission') is an upcoming class of attack submarine under construction by Iran.

History

On 25 August 2008, Iranian defence minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar announced Iran had started building the first submarine of the class named Qaaem, which will be capable of carrying and firing various types of torpedoes and undersea missiles.^[2] Since 2012, Iranian officials have not mentioned Qaaem class and it is unclear whether it has been further developed, or has turned into Besat project.^[3]

On 25 April 2023, Iranian Navy commander announced that the first Besat class submarine will likely join the navy in 1 or 2 years. He also said the submarine will be equipped with Surface-to-surface and Surface-to-air missiles as well as torpedoes.^[4]

References

^ "درخواست روحانی از سپاه/ جنجال رزمایش‌های موشکی". 16 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2017-01-03. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
^ reuters Iran launches submarine production line Archived 2009-06-09 at the Wayback Machine 25 August 2008
^ Cordesman, Anthony (2015), "The Iranian Sea-Air-Missile Threat to Gulf Shipping" (PDF), Center for Strategic and International Studies, p. 98, ISBN 978-1-4422-4077-3
^ "تجهیز زیردریایی بعثت به موشک‌های سطح به سطح و زیرسطح به هوا/ در دستور کار قرار گرفتن ساخت موشک کروز دریایی سطح به سطح با سرعت بالا و قابلیت پنهان‌کاری". خبرگزاری برنا (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-04-25.