By Ivan Kesic
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The exemplary demonstration of indigenous military strength featured the seamless integration of surface vessels, submarines, aircraft, coastal missile batteries, and specialized jungle warfare units — all operating in a synchronized and highly effective manner.
A broad array of advanced, domestically produced weaponry was deployed with pinpoint precision, including the short-range Nasr, medium-range Qader, and long-range Qadir anti-ship cruise missiles, alongside the sophisticated Bavar-5 kamikaze drone.
Each system struck its designated target with devastating accuracy in a strong and clear message to the adversaries.
Rear Admiral Abbas Hassani, the official spokesperson for the exercise, emphasized that every weapon, tactical system, and cutting-edge technology employed was conceived, designed, and manufactured entirely within Iran by its national defense industries, a testament to the country’s self-sufficiency and technological prowess.
The drills were meticulously crafted to simulate complex, real-world combat scenarios and featured successful electronic warfare countermeasures to neutralize simulated drone swarms and the precise destruction of naval targets using unmanned aerial vehicles in suicide missions, highlighting a multi-layered defensive and offensive doctrine.
Set against the backdrop of a tense and volatile regional security environment, the exercise delivered a powerful message of deterrence to adversaries contemplating fresh aggression against the Iranian nation.
The selected theater of operations — spanning some of the world’s most vital maritime energy corridors — underscored Iran’s pivotal role as a guarantor of security in these essential international waterways.
Admiral Hassani outlined the core objectives of the exercise, including enhancing the Navy’s combat readiness, bolstering national morale, refining complex battle management and command-and-control systems, and ultimately forging an undeniable deterrent shield — all achieved through the expertise of domestic scientists and engineers.
What types of exercises were conducted?
The auxiliary ship Ganaveh and the frigate Sabalan played a central role in the live-fire operations, simultaneously launching volleys of Nasr and Qadir cruise missiles that obliterated a target vessel.
Meanwhile, the Qader coastal defense missile system delivered a direct hit from shore, showcasing Iran’s ability to execute coordinated strikes across multiple domains.
The missiles’ technical specifications underscored a focus on stealth, precision, and destructive power: the Qader is a medium-range stealth anti-ship missile, the Qadir its longer-range radar-evading counterpart, and the Nasr delivers a potent short-range strike.
Together, they form a layered and formidable challenge to any hostile military fleet.
In a particularly striking demonstration of unmanned warfare, the Bavar-5 loitering munition launched from a naval vessel, traversed over 400 kilometers, and autonomously identified and destroyed its target with lethal precision, proving its effectiveness against both coastal and maritime objectives.
A defining moment of the exercise was the simultaneous impact of the Nasr, Qadir, and Qader missiles, along with the Bavar-5 drone, on a single target. This complex feat highlighted the Iranian Navy’s advanced network-centric warfare capabilities and high-level synchronization.
This synchronized destruction was more than a technical achievement and served as a clear warning to extra-regional forces operating in the area that any hostile action would be met with an overwhelming, coordinated response.
What is the Nasr missile?
The Nasr missile, named after the Arabic word for “victory,” is a short-range anti-ship cruise missile developed by Iran to target naval assets within the strategically vital waters of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
First unveiled by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy in 2008, the Nasr represents a domestically modified evolution of the Chinese C-704 missile, originally acquired in the 1990s and subsequently adapted to meet Iran’s operational needs.
Depending on the variant, the missile boasts an operational range of 35 to 120 kilometers and carries a high-explosive warhead weighing between 150 and 200 kilograms, more than enough to cripple small to medium-sized naval vessels.
Flying at subsonic speeds near Mach 0.9, the Nasr employs a dual guidance system: inertial navigation for mid-course travel and active radar homing for terminal phase targeting, enabling it to strike moving maritime targets with precision.
Its deployment versatility is notable, with launch platforms including coastal batteries, fast attack boats, and helicopters, making it a flexible tool in Iran’s naval arsenal.
The Nasr has featured prominently in exercises such as Great Prophet 9 in 2015, where it was used in coordinated swarm attacks, demonstrating its role in Iran’s asymmetric warfare strategy.
Strategically, the missile is designed to disrupt maritime traffic and pose a credible threat to larger naval forces, particularly the US Fifth Fleet, operating in narrow and contested waterways.
What is the Qader missile?
The Qader missile is a medium-range anti-ship cruise missile first unveiled by Iran in August 2011, marking a significant advancement over the earlier Nasr system through a series of refinements.
Derived from the Chinese C-802 missile, the Qader was fully indigenized by Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization, with notable enhancements to both its operational range and destructive payload.
Officially confirmed to reach distances of up to 300 kilometers, this subsonic missile travels at approximately Mach 0.9 and delivers a powerful 400 to 450-kilogram high-explosive warhead, capable of crippling frigates or inflicting serious damage on aircraft carriers.
Its guidance system integrates inertial navigation with active radar seeker technology and GPS corrections, ensuring high precision against moving maritime targets.
The Qader offers versatile launch options, operating from mobile coastal batteries, surface vessels, and potentially airborne platforms, granting strategic flexibility across multiple domains.
Since its debut, the Qader has been a regular feature in Iranian naval exercises, including the Great Prophet 6 drills, underscoring its operational readiness and reliability.
Iranian officials have described the Qader as the most powerful and precise missile in their naval arsenal, significantly strengthening Tehran’s ability to challenge US and other adversarial naval forces throughout the Persian Gulf and beyond.
What is the Qadir missile?
The Qadir missile, meaning "capable" or "powerful" in Persian, is a medium-range anti-ship cruise missile unveiled by Iran in 2020, marking a significant leap in the country’s naval strike capabilities.
Developed by the IRGC as an upgraded variant of the Nasr missile, the Qadir reflects Iran’s ongoing commitment to indigenous military innovation, featuring notable improvements in both range and stealth.
With an operational reach of 300 kilometers, the Qadir surpasses its predecessor and carries a formidable 400 to 500-kilogram high-explosive warhead, engineered to penetrate the hulls of large naval vessels such as destroyers.
Traveling at subsonic speeds between Mach 0.85 and 0.9, the missile employs an advanced guidance suite that combines satellite navigation with terminal active radar homing.
Its low radar cross-section airframe enhances stealth, making it harder to detect and intercept.
The Qadir is designed for flexible deployment across multiple platforms, including mobile coastal launchers, surface combatants, and submarines such as the Fateh-class, expanding its tactical versatility.
It was successfully tested during the Great Prophet 14 military exercises in 2020, where live firings demonstrated its operational effectiveness against simulated maritime targets.
Strategically, the Qadir broadens Iran’s threat envelope beyond the Persian Gulf, reinforcing Tehran’s layered defense doctrine and its ability to deter regional adversaries.
What is the Bavar-5 drone?
The Bavar-5 drone, whose name means "belief" in Persian, is a multi-role unmanned aerial vehicle developed by the IRGC Aerospace Force for reconnaissance, surveillance, and combat missions.
Unveiled in October 2021, the Bavar-5 builds on Iran’s decades-long drone development program, which began with the Ababil-1 in the 1980s. Its design draws inspiration from the American MQ-1 Predator and Chinese CH-5 drones, but has been tailored to meet Iran’s specific operational needs.
Boasting an operational range of 1,500 kilometers, the Bavar-5 is capable of conducting extended missions across the Persian Gulf and surrounding regions.
It offers a flight endurance of 12 to 15 hours, enabling sustained surveillance or precision strike operations.
The drone supports a payload capacity of up to 150 kilograms, configurable with precision-guided munitions, missiles, or advanced surveillance systems.
It cruises at speeds between 200 and 250 kilometers per hour and operates at altitudes reaching 6,000 meters.
Its guidance suite integrates satellite navigation with electro-optical and infrared sensors, allowing for accurate target acquisition and engagement in diverse environments.
Strategically, the Bavar-5 strengthens Iran’s asymmetric warfare capabilities by delivering persistent intelligence and strike options against both naval and ground targets.
By early 2025, estimates suggest that between 50 and 100 units were in operational service.
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