File image.
On March 5, the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) unveiled for the first time two underground missile and drone bases.
The bases, which were built deep in an unidentified mountain, were inaugurated by IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami.
The missile base hosts a number of road-mobile dual launchers armed with what appears to be solid-fueled short-range ballistic missiles of the Fateh-110 family.
Meanwhile, the drone base houses what appears to be dozens, and possibly hundreds, of Shahed-136 suicide drones, which have a range of 2,000 kilometers. Multiple drone launch systems are also stored in the base. Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, said that up to 60 drones can be launched from the new base simultaneously.
“The power of our missile fire and simultaneous launches have increased more than six to seven times, and the preparation time … has been greatly reduced,” the commander added.
The IRGC maintains a number of underground missiles bases in different parts of Iran. However, this was the first time the force unveils an underground base for suicide drones.
Iran has been working to boost its offensive capabilities for the last few years in response to threats from the US and its allies in the Middle East, first and foremost Israel. Precision-guided ballistic missiles and suicide drones offers Iran the ability to defend itself and harm its enemies. Tehran has been also suppling these advanced systems to its allies in the region.
It’s worth mentioning that the two new IRGC underground bases were unveiled amid reports of a near international deal on the relaunch of the 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement.
