Recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East prove true Vladimir Lenin’s infamous quote that, “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” That’s because about a month ago the entire geopolitical framework that has existed in the Mideast for decades was completely upended in a relatively short amount of time.
For the first time since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, which loosed the Islamic Republic of Iran from its strategic box, the Iranians have been placed on the defensive and their overall strategic position in the region is utterly crumbling.
As a result of these incredible actions in just a little more than a month, Iran is desperately flailing about in a spasmodic attempt to restore its unstable regional security situation. Recent days have seen pronouncements about rapid Iranian nuclear weapons development meanwhile since last month news about Iran’s mysterious drone mothership has slowly leaked out to the West.
Earlier this week, Iran’s state-controlled Channel 3 made an ominous prediction that, “In the coming hours, the world will witness unusual scenes and developments.”
No one knows for sure what that means. It is likely just another desperate act from a regime that, let’s face it, is about to feel the squeeze from the incoming Trump administration if President-Elect Donald Trump’s running commentary on Tuesday, January 7, about Iran and the hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip are any indicator.
A Drone Mothership is Born
Regardless, Iran is clearly doing everything in its power to restore its unstable and rapidly deteriorating security situation. An area that should cause some alarm among Western security officials is Iran’s drone carrier, the Shahid Bagheri. This vessel is a modified container ship. Specifically, it is an augmented 24-year-old container ship named the Perarin. The ship was transformed at the Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex Company near Bandar Abbas in Iran.
Significant structure modifications were needed to make the old container ship into a weapon of war. An angled flight deck and a specialized ski-jump takeoff ramp were installed on the boat. Of course, the ship retains its original superstructure. Angled decks for launching and recovering drones was, therefore, necessary. Those modifications included white markings to guide flight operations, indicating that the Iranians are serious about precision in their onboard drone operations.
Designed to carry a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including medium-range altitude, long-range endurance drones, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones, and one-way attack drones, the vessel’s capacity suggests she will carry a significant and lethal array of drones. One can assume what kind of drones will be present onboard this ship, but the Iranians have been characteristically mum about the details. Although, the fact that there is a ski-jump ramp indicates the likelihood that the Iranians plan on launching jet-powered drones and/or heavier, longer-range systems from this boat. It’s a significant force multiplier.
The Shahid Bagheri apparently left its port the week of November 12. Its whereabouts are not publicly known (it is very likely that US intelligence has a clear understanding of where this boat is, though). The ship is a perfect example of Iran’s method for keeping up with larger military powers that are competing with the Islamic Republic. By taking existing civilian technology, like the container ship, and converting it into a relatively cheap drone carrier, the Iranians just enhanced their naval power projection significantly on the cheap.
A Master of Asymmetrical Warfare on the High Seas
By having the Shahid Bagheri (other drone carriers are under construction, too), the Iranian Navy can engage in destabilizing military operations against international shipping passing through the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Bab El-Mandeb, and the Red Sea.
Shahid Bagheri’s role in asymmetrical warfare will be crucial for keeping Iran in the great geopolitical game, especially in light of its recent bad luck at the hands of Turkey and Israel in places like Syria.
There are, of course, downsides to this jerry-rigged vessel. While it is insanely cheap and gives the Iranian Armed Forces significant capabilities boost, the vessel was not originally designed as a military ship. Therefore, there are inherent limitations to the ship. This is especially true in light of Iran’s serious lack of protective escorts for the drone carrier.
Beyond that, though, this ship is relatively easy to spot and track for most modern intelligence agencies. So, its threat is likely still limited. Indeed, it was tracked as it left its homeport by the civilian Western satellite firm, Maxar Technologies.
Where Shahid Bagheri can do the most amount of damage is in the waters surrounding the Middle East. If, however, Tehran gets it in its head that this boat can be used to project military power across distances, such as the Atlantic Ocean, they would find whatever advantages the ship gave their navy utterly negated.
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a Senior Fellow at the Center for the National Interest, and a contributor at Popular Mechanics, consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
