Iran Unveils Fateh Submarine, Capable of Launching Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles, Mines, Torpedoes; Commander of Iran Navy Hossein Khanzadi: It Is Time to Banish the U.S. from the Region

On February 17, 2019, IRINN TV and Channel 2 (Iran) aired reports about Iran's unveiling of the Fateh semi-heavy submarine, which one of the reports said is now in mass production. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani went to the Hormozgan Province to announce the addition of Fateh to the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, a few days after the 40^th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. In the IRINN TV report, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said that Fateh is the first Iranian vessel that can launch torpedoes, missiles, and anti-ship cruise missiles from underwater. Deputy Defense Minister Amir Rastegari, who is also the director of the Defense Ministry's Marine Industries Organization, said that the Fateh submarine can participate in "network-centric and hybrid warfare" while simultaneously engaging enemy vessels in combat. In the Channel 2 report, Rastegari said that Iran will unveil a new water jet motor technology – which is one of the technologies that has sanctions applied to it – in late February. He also said that Iran has successfully developed diesel, electric, turbine, steam, and nuclear naval propellants. He specified that Iran has recently made significant advancements in brushless DC (BLDC) electric motors. In the same broadcast, Commander of the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Hossein Khanzadi said that Iran has a 24/7 presence in its territorial waters and claimed that the U.S. believes that the region is no longer safe for its presence. He added: "The time has come for us to banish them from the region."

Following are excerpts:

[IRINN TV]

Reporter: The images that you are seeing are related to the President's presence in the Hormozgan Province. He is there in order to add the semi-heavy Fateh submarine to the naval fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. This is a live broadcast. As we said, the addition of this semi-heavy submarine will complete the nation's chain of defense in international waters and underwater.

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General Amir Hatami: One of the complex technologies relates to launching missiles underwater. Thank God, we have been very successful in this field this year, and we currently have this ability.

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Aside from being able to launch torpedoes, this submarine can launch anti-ship cruise missiles from the depths of the sea. This is the first time this has been done in the country. In addition to serving as an important and influential factor in the defense of the Iranian nation in the framework of the active deterrence policy, this submarine sends an important message to the nations in the region. The message is that the region has the ability to protect itself without the need for external expansionist powers. These arrogant powers need to take note of recent event and developments and learn a lesson. They must end their intervention, which has caused instability and the shedding of the blood of tens and hundreds of thousands of innocent people in the region. They must allow the nations in the region to choose their own fate.

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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani: I hereby announce the addition of the Fateh submarine to the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army – with the blessing of Allah.

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Reporter: The semi-heavy Fateh submarine has a mass production line.

General Amir Rastegari: From the perspective of the use of a variety of technologies and equipment, this submarine has the ability to fight in the maritime arena against a variety of the enemy's submarines and offensive naval vessels. It was designed such that it can participate in network-centric and hybrid warfare while simultaneously fighting against the submarine and offensive naval vessels of the enemy. Since it can carry all types of naval weapons such as mines, torpedoes, and underwater missiles, the submarine can utilize the concept of hide-and-surprise in the diverse underwater environment, and strike in a fashion that causes shock and destruction against the enemy's invading fleets

Reporter: With the operation of the mass production line of the Fateh semi-heavy submarine, Iran is among the 11 nations that have the technology to design and produce submarines.

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The Fateh submarine – along with Sahand, Sabalan, Jamaran, and dozens of other warships and destroyers – now carries the flag of Iran; the flag of the country whose ill-wishers did not want it to see the 40^th anniversary of its victory and celebrate it. But now, together with [the beginning of] the fifth decade of Iran's Islamic Revolution, Fateh splits the waves of the sea. This is the Islamic Republic of Iran's Fateh. A semi-heavy submarine that was built by the hands of the local experts, in cooperation with the Defense Ministry's marine industries and the strategic navy of the Iran Army.

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[Channel 2]

General Amir Rastegari: There are a few types of propellants in the naval field: Diesel, electricity, turbines, steam, and nuclear. Thanks God, our nation has the ability to produce all of these propellants. The moment the order is given, we can start seriously advancing the matter and installing these propellants in our different kinds of products. Recently we have focused well on the electric propellant and we have very good achievements – in the field of BLDC [brushless DC motors]. These are direct current motors that do not use brushes or coal.

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We are now working on the first water jet system. On February 25, at the second conference for naval propellants that will take place at Sharif University, we will reveal this technology. I am talking about the first water jet system, that provides 1500 horsepower. This is one of the types of technologies that has sanctions applied to it.

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General Hossein Khanzadi: The clear message for those who think about threatening Iran militarily is that they must be prepared to suffer a powerful and surprising blow by the warriors of the Navy of Iran Army. Today, we have a 24/7 presence in our territorial waters. We have a strong and meaningful presence in the sea. The result is that from the beginning of the [Persian] year [in March 2018] until two months ago, not a single aircraft carrier has been present in our region. They had a brief presence in the last few months, but they quickly left the region. From their perspective, this region is no longer safe for them. As I said this morning, the time has come for us to banish them from this region. This region absolutely does not need the presence of foreigners to provide security. The countries in the region can help each other hand-in-hand and provide full security to the region.