Iran's Revolutionary Guards naval forces

Iran's Revolutionary Guards naval forces unveiled the first amphibian aircraft squadron at Bandar Abbas in September 2010. Photo: Mehr News Agency


The new Bavar-2 Wind in Ground Effect (WIG) amphibian seaplane, designed to perform short range maritime surveillance, coastal patrol and provide target acquisition for the Zulfiqar fast boats, enabling them to launch their missiles at maximum range, thus avoiding counter attack from the surface. As a WIG amphibian, Bavar-2 has unique capabilities to ‘sea skim’ just above wave-top level, or perch at sea level, thus evading detection by hostile radars. Typically, such planes cruise at a speed of 130 km/h and perform optimally at an altitude of few meters above the sea although, technically some WIG designs can reach a maximum altitude of 300 meters.
In times of crisis it is assumed that the fast boats, submarines and seaplanes will disperse to many coastal locations, from where they will be able to launch surprise attacks against merchant ships, tankers or military targets. The submarines and amphibians will provide the eyes and ears for the missile carrying fast fast boats, which could group into attack swarms to strike and disperse immediately after it, thus making it difficult for the enemy to launch an effective counter strike.

Ghadir Submarine

Iranian Ghadir mini submarines are based at Bandar Abbas. Photo: FARS news agency by Vahid Reza Alaei


A key element in this ‘hornets nest’ is the Ghadir mini-submarine. The first two locally built subs were delivered in 2008 and this year during a visit at the base four subs were visible. These submarines built for short missions operating at shallow water, carrying out coastal reconnaissance, mine laying and engagement of surface targets, including moving vessels and oil rigs. Mining by submarines could become one of Iran’s modus operandi as detection or attribution of such action to the actual perpetrator is almost impossible.
Another element of the hornets nest was unveiled this week, as Iran’s Revolutionary Guards naval units displayed over a dozen planes during an official visit of the Guards’ commander, brig. General Ahmad vahidi at Bandar Abbas. Unveiled as a prototype in 2006, Bavar-2 is designed to operate as a rapid reaction force, equipped with aerial cameras and communications links transmitting images in real-time to command centers at sea or on land. The seaplane is also equipped with a machine gun. It is flown by a single pilot and is fitted to operate in day or night, using night vision devices.
In August 2010 the Iranians unveiled the ‘sting’ of the hornets – the new Zulfikar fast patrol boats (shown in the video below), an all-aluminum built fast boat armed with Iranian-made Nasr-1 medium range anti-ship missiles. (actually, an Iranian version of the Chinese C-704 missile). The Iranians plan to deploy large numbers of these boats, armed with the locally produced missiles, being able to saturate the defenses of highly protected surface vessels.

Iranian fast boat firing a 107mm rocket

An Iranian fast boat firing a 107mm rocket in direct fire against a naval target. Such boats are employed in swarm attacks, saturating a target defense. Photo: Fars news agency by Hossein Zohrevand.



In recent years Iran is escalating its swarm capabilities to higher levels, with the development of indigenous weapons and platforms tailored for the Persian Gulf Theater of operation. Among these elements are mini submarines, amphibian seaplanes, high speed missile boats and medium range anti-ship missiles. All are designed as compact, cost efficient element that together, creating a force multiplier that cannot be ignored even by the world’s largest, most capable navies.

Iran's Hornet Nest At Bandar Abaas

Bavar-2 amphibian seaplane employs the 'Wing in Ground Effect' (WIG) principle to fly low above sea level. In fact, Bavar-2 traces back to the Russian Eska-1 an early WIG planes designed in the 1970s. It is equipped with maritime surveillance equipment, and communications for recce and target acquisition over the sea. The new plane is operated by the Iranian revolutionary Guards naval units. Photo: Fars news agency, by Vahid reza Alaei.

Iran is preparing a massive force of small but highly capable combat elements capable of disrupting oil transportation through the Persian Gulf and the Straight of Hurmoz choke point. The Iranians have developed unique operational concepts employing coordinated swarm attacks that could effectively defeat large, well protected surface combatants such as those operated by the allied naval forces present at the Gulf. Many of these Swarm elements are currently stationed at the naval base at Bandar Abbas, acting as the Swarm’s ‘Hornets Nest’ at the southern end of the Hurmoz Straits in the Persian Gulf. In recent, highly publicized naval exercises held by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’, swarm attacks were demonstrated by engaging targets from extended range by anti-ship missiles, while smaller fast boats were closing in at high speed, firing rockets and Rocket propelled Grenades (RPG) from very short range.

UK recruits cyber experts to protect key networks

The UK is recruiting a number of cyber experts to be deployed alongside armed forces personnel on military operations in a bid to protect its key networks, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on 1 June.
"Future conflict will see cyber operations conducted in parallel with more conventional actions in the sea, land and air operations," the MoD said in a statement. "Therefore we must plan, train, exercise and operate in a way which integrates our activities in both cyber and physical space."
These operations will fall under the jurisdiction of the Defence Cyber Operations Group, which will be responsible for the specialist training and deployment of military personnel, while the individual services will be responsible for initial recruitment.

By Eleanor Keymer

USN ships 'cannibalise' equipment to pass inspections, Congress told

The US Navy (USN) is relying heavily on a maintenance option the service considers "a drastic measure to only be utilised as a last resort" to allow its ships to pass their basic inspections and maintain the operational effectiveness of its fleet, according to previously unreleased data provided to the US Congress and obtained by Jane's .
In four consecutive quarters in 2010 the USN reported a rate of so-called "cannibalisation" of components between ships of on average twice the current allowable maximum allowed limit (MAL) of about one instance per four ships (.28), according to the data.
"It's not a cost efficiency when we look at our cannibalisation rates," Vice Admiral Kevin McCoy, Commander of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), told a US congressional committee on 12 July. "That means we're taking parts off one ship to put on another ship so we can meet the inspections."
Across the fleet in 2010, the USN saw an average rate of cannibalisation of .48, or about one instance per two ships across the entire year. Across the nine ship classes identified in the data, five ship classes exceeded the MAL.

By Sam LaGrone

UK defence exports plunge by £1bn By Guy Anderson

UK defence exports fell 14 per cent in 2010 to GBP6 billion (USD9.6 billion), although the country's share of the world market slightly improved.
UK Trade and Investment Defence Services Organisation (UKTI DSO) – the defence and security export wing of the UK government – reported on 18 July that the UK won almost GBP6 billion of new business during 2010, reflecting a 22 per cent share of the world market.
In 2009, the UK secured new business valued at GBP7 billion: a figure that accounted for just 18 per cent of world sales that year.
Despite the fallen military sales, UK security sales improved significantly on the back of strong global demand and a strong export push. Security sales climbed eight per cent to GBP2 billion, maintaining (according to UKTI DSO figures) the UK's fifth place ranking in the world.