For the First Time: Iranian Revolutionary Guard "Crosses" the Equator

Iranian media reported that a vessel belonging to the Revolutionary Guard Navy has crossed the equator and entered the southern hemisphere. The "Tasnim" agency stated that the ship (Mahdavi), equipped with long-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, crossed the equator during its mission and entered the southern hemisphere. It added, "This is the first long-range naval mission for the Revolutionary Guard in terms of distance and type of mission." The ship, which was added to the Revolutionary Guard Navy in March 2023, weighs over 2,100 tons, is 240 meters long, and 27 meters wide. This vessel is equipped with a variety of advanced radars, such as three-dimensional radar, missile systems including ground-to-ground and ground-to-air, as well as the "Sayyad Khordad" system and other advanced communication systems. According to the commander of the Revolutionary Guard Navy, Ali Reza Tangsiri, in addition to the long-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles with a range of 2,000 kilometers named "Qadr 474" have also been installed on this ship. He added that the most important mission for the Revolutionary Guard Navy in distant waters is "to establish and maintain maritime sovereignty and ensure the security of shipping lines."