Iran Deploys Its So-Called Aircraft Carrier Shahid Bagheri

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has deployed Shahid Bagheri, its so-called aircraft carrier, to sea amid domestic unrest and heightened regional tensions.

Analyst Mehdi H. published satellite images confirming the deployment on the social media platform X.

The images, dated January 26, show the vessel anchored about five kilometers south of the port of Bandar Abbas.

The reasons for this activity have not been officially explained. It cannot be ruled out that the deployment is part of scheduled sea trials; however, it is also possible that the vessel was sent to sea for security reasons – to protect it from potential unrest in the port area.

Another possible factor is heightened regional tensions and an effort to preserve the combat asset.

Shahid Bagheri was commissioned on February 6, 2025. Since then, it has rarely been put to sea and was not involved in the recent Iran–Israel conflict.

Sentinel-2 satellite image of the IRGCN drone carrier, IRIS Shahid Bagheri today anchored ~ 5 km south of Bandar-Abbas port, Jan 27, 2026. pic.twitter.com/oO6zGRhA7V

— Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) January 28, 2026

It should be recalled that the ship’s first sea trials took place in November 2024.

Shahid Bagheri

The vessel, which Iranian sources describe as “Iran’s first aircraft carrier,” was created by converting the container ship Perarin, approximately 240 meters in length. The ship was modified to accommodate a flight deck and a ski-jump ramp for aircraft takeoff.

Retaining the original superstructure, which spans the full width of the hull, made a conventional aircraft carrier layout with a straight, full-length deck impossible.

Instead, the runway was arranged at an angle to the ship’s longitudinal axis, allowing for the required length for takeoff and landing.

Meanwhile, the practical effectiveness of such a configuration remains unclear, as does the range of aircraft types that would realistically be able to operate from and take off from this vessel.

Shahid Bagheri is primarily intended for the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles and helicopters.

The vessel is rated for sea states up to 9 and has a stated operational range of about 22,000 nautical miles, which, according to its designers, allows it to remain deployed and operate in remote areas of the world’s oceans for up to a year without refueling.

The length of the flight deck runway is approximately 180 meters.
The ship’s armament includes eight Noor anti-ship missiles, eight Kowsar-222 surface-to-air missiles, a 30-mm automatic cannon, and, according to unconfirmed reports, two remotely operated turrets armed with 20-mm cannons.