Shahid Soleimani-class

The Shahid Soleimani class is a series of catamaran missile corvettes operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy. Designed for littoral combat, the vessels are built at the Shahid Mahallati Shipyard in Bushehr. Four units have been commissioned, named after IRGC commanders killed in action. The class is named after Qasem Soleimani, the IRGC Quds Force commander killed by a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad in January 2020.

The catamaran hull design provides a wide beam relative to length, offering a stable platform for weapon systems. Armament includes a vertical launch system with two cell sizes accommodating Sayyad-2 and Sayyad-3 surface-to-air missiles alongside shorter-range air defense missiles. The vessels also carry Noor or Ghadir long-range anti-ship cruise missiles, Nasir mid-range anti-ship missiles, a 30 mm autocannon, and multiple 20 mm gatling guns. A large flight deck at the stern supports helicopter or UAV operations.

The lead ship, IRIS Shahid Soleimani, was commissioned in September 2022. IRIS Shahid Hassan Bagheri followed in February 2024, IRIS Shahid Sayyad Shirazi in late 2024, and IRIS Shahid Raees Ali Delvari in February 2025. During the 2026 Iran war, the class suffered significant losses: IRIS Shahid Soleimani was destroyed at Bandar Abbas on 3 March during Operation Epic Fury, and IRIS Shahid Sayyad Shirazi was struck and sunk near Bandar Abbas on 4 March, with CENTCOM releasing footage of the vessel ablaze before sinking.