TEHRAN - Newly released photos from last week’s IRGC Navy drill in the Strait of Hormuz show a new leap in Iran’s maritime power. During the “Smart Control” exercise, forces fired a Sayyad 3-G missile from the Shahid Sayyad Shirazi warship, a launch that showed Iranian vessels have officially moved past point defense and are now armed with long-range, vertical-launch capabilities.

The Sayyad Shirazi, the third ship in the Soleimani class, carries six of these missiles—the naval variant of the Sayyad 3-F—in large vertical silos. Intercepting targets at 150 kilometers, the weapon creates a regional air defense bubble. It can easily hunt down hostile fighter jets, high-altitude drones, and cruise missiles.

Because it fires vertically, the system provides instant 360-degree protection without needing to aim the launcher. This allows the crew to shoot rapidly and defeat sudden saturation attacks. Analysts have pointed out that ultimately, the IRGC has turned its warships into moving air defense fortresses securing the country’s southern waters.