The Iran Navy and the The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) have recently introduced a state-of-the-art fleet of long-range cruise missiles with an impressive reach of 1000 km. This latest integration of the highly precise Abu Mahdi missiles into the naval arsenal significantly bolsters Iran’s capacity to counter electronic warfare activities within the region. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Iran’s Defense Minister, highlighted that the missile system is equipped with cutting-edge artificial intelligence within its command-and-control framework. IRGCN is paramilitary naval force and parallel to the conventional Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.
Tasnim News Agency reported that during a ceremony commemorating the acquisition and attended by senior military dignitaries, Ashtiani underlined that the Abu Mahdi missile empowers Iran to effectively counter electronic warfare maneuvers while skillfully evading radar systems. Moreover, the missile’s advanced capabilities allow it to autonomously chart the most optimal flight trajectory. Indigenously manufactured, the missile bears the name of the late Iraqi militia commander, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, who lost his life in a US operation near Baghdad’s international airport in January 2020, alongside former IRGC Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani.
Military analysts indicate that the Abu Mahdi missile’s design draws inspiration from the Kh-55 cruise missiles, which Iran procured from Ukraine approximately two decades ago. The missile flies at a very low altitude, making it harder to detect and intercept, and has a “double seeker” that enables it to counter electronic countermeasures. The dual-radar seeker has both active and passive modes and that the guidance system uses artificial intelligence to plot a flightpath via a series of waypoints, enabling it to exploit gaps in enemy air-defence coverage and enabling multiple missiles to simultaneously approach a target from different directions.
