Moudge vs Shahid Soleimani

The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) relies on the conventionally hulled Moudge class to project surface power, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) fields the catamaran Shahid Soleimani class. The parallel procurement of these vessels outlines a bifurcated naval structure, dividing Iranian state resources between a legacy blue-water fleet and an asymmetric, missile-heavy littoral force.

Development and Design

The 1,500-ton Moudge class is a domestic derivation of the 1960s-era British Vosper Mk5 (Alvand class) design. Constructed by Iran's Marine Industries Organization starting in 2001, the program suffers from structural and industrial deficiencies, evidenced by multiple shipyard accidents, including the capsizing of Zagros and Sahand. In contrast, the 600-ton Shahid Soleimani class, built at the Shahid Mahallati Shipyard, utilizes a wave-piercing catamaran hull. This design provides the IRGC-N with a wider beam (14.5m on a 65m hull compared to the Moudge's 11.1m on a 95m hull), increasing deck space and stability for heavier weapons payloads on a smaller displacement.

Weapons and Sensors

Despite displacing 900 tons less than the Moudge, the Shahid Soleimani carries a denser missile payload.

• Shahid Soleimani mounts a vertical launch system (VLS) with 16 cells for Sayyad-2/3 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), four Noor/Ghadir anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), two Nasir ASCMs, and six Abu-Mahdi surface-to-surface missiles.
• Moudge relies on older box launchers, carrying four Sayyad-3 or Mehrab SAMs and four Noor or Qader ASCMs, backed by a 76mm Fajr-27 gun and lightweight torpedoes.

The Moudge utilizes a domestically produced 3D PESA radar and hull-mounted sonar for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), operating a Bell 214 helicopter. The Soleimani lacks dedicated ASW sensors but integrates a large stern flight deck for UAVs and rotary-wing assets.

Propulsion and Performance

The Moudge uses a twin-shaft diesel arrangement (20,000 shp total) pushing the 1,500-ton hull to 30 knots. The Soleimani class reaches 32 knots with an unrefueled range of 5,000 nautical miles. The Soleimani's catamaran hull presents a lower radar cross-section than the conventional steel monohull of the Moudge, matching IRGC-N hit-and-run littoral doctrine.

Deployment and Combat Record

Both classes suffered catastrophic attrition during the 2026 Iran war against U.S. forces. On 1 March 2026, U.S. airstrikes during Operation Epic Fury sank the Moudge-class Jamaran, Sahand, and Zagros at their berths in Bandar Abbas. On 4 March, USS Charlotte torpedoed and sank Dena in the Indian Ocean—the first submarine torpedo kill since 1982. The IRGC-N suffered parallel losses; Shahid Soleimani was destroyed at Bandar Abbas on 3 March, and Shahid Sayyad Shirazi was sunk by CENTCOM forces on 4 March. Prior to 2026, Moudge-class deployments were defined by operational failures, including the 2018 grounding and loss of Damavand in the Caspian Sea.

Conclusion

The Shahid Soleimani class is a deadlier surface combatant than the Moudge class. By abandoning the 1960s-era conventional hull for a catamaran design, the IRGC-N integrated a 16-cell VLS and 12 anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles onto a 600-ton platform. The Moudge class is structurally obsolete, under-armed with four box-launched SAMs, and compromised by systemic industrial incompetence. For anti-surface warfare in the Persian Gulf, the Soleimani's low-observable profile and dense missile payload provide a distinct tactical advantage, whereas the Moudge operates as an oversized, vulnerable target.