Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has fired two ballistic missiles from launchers disguised as standard shipping containers that were hosted aboard one of its sea base-like vessels. This particular combination, which has not been seen to date, greatly expands the reach with which those weapons could be used to strike potential targets by surprise, especially given that shipping containers can be embarked on any vessel that has the space to accommodate them.
The country's IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency reports that two "Fateh class" ballistic missiles were recently launched from Shahid Mahdavi, which the Iranian Navy took delivery of in March 2023 after it was converted from a state-owned and operated container ship known as the Sarvin. The outlet also notes that the launch was a collaboration between the IRGC's naval and aerospace forces. At least one of the missiles went on to successfully hit their target in the central desert of Iran, it has been reported. The exact date on which this all occurred, which precise Fateh variant the missiles were, and the distance said missiles traversed to get to their targets, remains unclear at present.
Footage originally released by the Tasnim News Agency, linked below, shows two missiles firing from launchers housed within two separate shipping containers aboard the vessel. In it, we see the launches from various angles, thanks to the placement of video cameras around the ship and what appears to be drone footage captured from above. It also shows the supposed resulting impact on a target of one of the missiles, causing a large explosion.
Additional video released by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) also shows the launches from other perspectives, as well as what appears to be footage from the control operator’s position inside the ship.
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