TEHRAN, May 04 (MNA) – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy’s ‘Shahid Mahdavi’ oceangoing warship crossed the zero degrees latitude, the Equator, on Friday and sailed into the southern hemisphere in an overseas naval mission.The oceangoing warship, equipped with long-range ballistic and cruise missiles, is carrying out a mission in the international waters.

On Friday, the large vessel crossed the zero degrees latitude and entered the southern hemisphere.

Named after IRGC’s late naval commander Nader Mahdavi, the oceangoing warship is conducting its biggest mission in terms of distance and operation.

It has also been deployed to the Gulf of Aden in recent months.

Mahdavi oceangoing warship joined the IRGC Navy’s fleet in March 2023.

The multi-purpose heavy warship is designed for long-range operations.

It weighs more than 2,100 tons and is 240 meters in length and 27 meters in width.

Equipped with a 3-dimensional phased array radar, sea-to-sea and sea-to-air missiles, and advanced communication systems for electronic warfare, the warship is capable of carrying different types of helicopters, drones, and speedboats.

In February 2024, the IRGC Navy launched two ballistic missiles from inside two containers on board the Mahdavi oceangoing warship.

IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami said the new achievement has extended the IRGC’s range of influence and naval power up to any desired spot.

“Our ocean-going warships can be present in every location across the world, and when we can fire missiles from them, there is accordingly no safe spot for a power intending to create insecurity for us,” the IRGC chief said.

In November 2020, the IRGC Navy unveiled plans to dispatch a flotilla of military vessels, including its first oceangoing warship, to the northern parts of the Indian Ocean.

MNA/TSN