Floating cities give the IRGC Navy the upper hand in asymmetric warfare

According to Ashura News, citing Mehr News Agency, on Friday, January 19, 1403, the floating city of the IRGC Navy was unveiled in the presence of Major General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, and Rear Admiral Tangsiri, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC Navy. This floating city was built at a depth of 500 meters from the ground. As a strategic innovation in the military and maritime fields, they are of great importance, especially for the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These bases act as operational and support centers in sensitive maritime areas and can contribute significantly to strengthening the country's defensive and offensive capabilities.

Of course, this was not the first time that the IRGC Navy unveiled its missile cities. During the final weeks of 2015, when the issue of our country’s armed forces unveiling underground cities became one of the most important events and had many domestic and international repercussions, the IRGC Navy also made some of its secret achievements public, and Brigadier General Fadavi, the then commander of the IRGC Navy, announced that in addition to the coast-to-sea missiles located in long tunnels, we also have our high-speed vessels - which are the nightmare of the Americans - floating in underground cities.

The work did not end here, and it was in the winter of 2020 that Major General Salami unveiled the IRGC missile city in the Persian Gulf. In this underground base, various types of IRGC Navy cruise missiles of various ranges were on display, along with their launcher vehicles.

After that, General Tangsiri, the current commander of the IRGC Navy, announced that these cities are more than 70 kilometers deep along the coast of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of ​​Oman. They are fully armed and Iranian missiles can be fired from these cities.

General Salami: We are capable of creating multiple layers of defense and attack

Major General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, said during a visit to the floating cities of the IRGC Navy: The complex that we visited today with the honorable commander of the IRGC Navy is one of the many complexes that maintain the systems of the IRGC Navy’s offensive, missile-launching and mine-laying vessels.

Major General Salami stated that although this complex that the dear Iranian nation is observing today is a magnificent and majestic complex, it is a small fraction compared to the entire defensive power of the IRGC Navy. Referring to the increasing readiness of the combat capability and defensive capability of the IRGC Navy, he added: The combat capability of these vessels and the missile systems deployed on them is in addition to the numerous combat vessels that are currently patrolling the Persian Gulf, throughout these blue waters, for the sovereignty and defense of the water borders of our Islamic homeland, and in addition to the vessels, missile launchers, and other capabilities that are deployed on the islands and coasts of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and are ready to carry out the mission.

Floating Cities, the Superior Hand of the IRGC Navy in Asymmetric Warfare

Sergeant Salami noted: By God’s grace, significant progress has been made in the IRGC Navy over the past and present years in both the quantity and quality of its offensive systems.

Continuing his speech, he stated: The speed of combat vessels, along with the increase in their range and depth of navigation, their ability to cross waves, high altitudes and turbulent seas, and their ability to sail far in the oceans for the vanguard and foremost defense of the vital interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran, are the product of the extensive efforts of engineers and operational users of these systems, both in the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Support, in the IRGC Navy Jihad and Self-Sufficiency Organization, and in the Navy’s naval shipbuilding factories.

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Major General Hossein Salami continued: "By the grace of God, the range of the ships, the speed of the ships, the range of the missiles deployed on these ships, their accuracy, and their destructive power have all made a significant leap, progress, and upgrade, so that today the IRGC Navy is able to pursue numerous defense layers with an aggressive strategy and posture in addition to close-range, long-range, and close-range warfare."

Emphasizing that the number of advanced equipment and systems of the Navy is increasing every day, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said: "We assure the dear and great nation of Iran that the young and mature people of this nation are capable of conducting an honorable and victorious battle at sea against small and large enemies with any talent."

General Hossein Salami, stating that the fact that I mentioned during my visit to the aerospace missile systems, that today, although the tunnels for storing our ships and missiles are numerous and very long, we are still faced with a lack of space to accommodate and consolidate this capability in these storage structures, added: "We are determined to create great events and epics and history-making events in the various defense fields of the country with firm and firm will, with great effort, steady steps, and confident hearts of our warriors, whenever we wish, with the permission of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and to defend the glory of this nation."

The Importance and Necessity of Underground Bases

Floating and missile cities have various dimensions of importance and capabilities, and we will mention the most important of these below.

1. Strategic security: Due to their location underground, these bases are very resistant in terms of security and can be protected against enemy air and missile attacks.

2. Covert operations: Provides the military forces with the ability to conduct covert and surprise operations. This can be very effective in critical situations and asymmetric wars. In this regard, Brigadier General Tangsiri, Commander of the IRGC Navy, said: This underground city is capable of immediate operations at sea. We made all these developments during the sanctions.

3. Support for naval operations: Given Iran's geographical location and maritime threats, the existence of such bases can help in conducting naval and surveillance operations.

Floating cities are the superior hand of the IRGC Navy in asymmetric warfare

Capabilities and features of the IRGC Navy's underground bases

1. Cover and camouflage: Due to their underground location and special design, these bases remain hidden from radar and enemy detection.

2. Ability to deploy advanced equipment: It is possible to deploy military equipment, drones, missiles, and small ships in these bases.

3. Logistic infrastructure: These bases can include logistical facilities to meet the needs of military forces, including weapons depots, repair shops, and control centers.

4. Crisis management: Provides the ability to manage crises and respond quickly to various threats.

Global trend in the development of underground bases

Other countries have also moved towards creating underground or secret bases to strengthen their military capabilities. Some countries use these types of bases for similar purposes:

• United States: Has underground bases in strategic locations around the world to protect its forces and equipment.

• Russia: Considers the development of underground bases as part of its defense strategy and has worked on creating underground command centers.

• China: Has increased efforts to create underground bases in order to strengthen its naval and land power.

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Missile Cities and Their Impact on the Country's Defense Deterrence

But the question may arise as to what special importance missile cities have, since their possession is considered an advantage and a factor of power for countries, and on the other hand, only a limited number of countries have this capability.

In response, we can say; These cities are designed in such a way that they can operate secretly and be protected against air and cyber attacks. The missile cities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as one of the main pillars of the defense capability of the Islamic Republic of Iran, play an important role in the country's deterrence strategy. These cities are designed as centers for the production, maintenance, and launch of ballistic and cruise missiles and can react quickly.

Structure and Features

Location: These facilities are usually located in remote locations with limited access to remain hidden from the enemy's view.

Missile Variety: These cities include a variety of ballistic and cruise missiles with different ranges that provide the ability to target strategic targets.

Technical support: The presence of specialized technical teams for rapid maintenance and repairs is another feature of these facilities.

The impact of missile cities on defensive deterrence

Deterrence capability: The existence of these cities allows the Islamic Republic of Iran to react quickly in the event of a crisis or military attack and to have the ability to strike the enemy.

Increased enemy military spending: The existence of missile threats forces enemies to invest more in defense and anti-missile systems.

Balance of power: These facilities help Iran maintain a balance of power against major powers and its neighbors.

The missile cities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as one of the main pillars of Iran's defense strategy, play a key role in the country's deterrence. These facilities not only strengthen Iran's military capability but also create a balance of power against external threats. However, challenges such as sanctions and cyber threats require careful attention and management in order to continue to achieve their goals

Floating Cities: The IRGC Navy’s Superior Hand in Asymmetric Warfare

Conclusion

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy’s underwater floating cities, as a strategic innovation, not only strengthen national security but also increase operational capabilities. Given the threats in the maritime domain, these types of bases can play a key role in defending national interests. Also, the global trend shows the desire of various countries to use underground bases to strengthen their military capabilities.