IRAN'S FIRST LOCALLY-MADE SUBMARINE INDUCTED TEHRAN, AUG 29 (KUNA) -- IRAN'S FIRST DOMESTICALLY MADE SUBMARINE DESIGNED TO SUIT GULF WEATHER CONDITIONS, WAS INDUCTED IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY ON TUESDAY, THE OFFICIAL IRNA NEWS AGENCY REPORTED.
"AL-SABEHAT - 15 IS BUILT TO UNDERTAKE OPERATIONS INCLUDING RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS, TROOP DEPLOYMENT, PLANTING MINES AND GUIDING ARTILLERY FIRE," DIRECTOR OF THE SUBMARINE PROJECT SAID.
MEHDI SHARIFI ZAMANI WAS SPEAKING AT A SPECIAL INDUCTION CEREMONY IN THE PORT CITY OF BANDAR ABBAS.
THE SUBMERSIBLE CAN CARRY A CREW OF FIVE, HAS "ALL THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND IS EXPORTABLE," HE SAID, WITHOUT PROVIDING DETAILS OR OTHER TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE VESSEL.
PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUB STARTED IN 1996.
DEFENSE MINISTER REAR-ADMIRAL ALI SHAMKHANI LATER TOLD REPORTERS AL-SABEHAT-15 HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND BUILT TO MEET GULF "ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS INCLUDING WEATHER, HUMIDITY, SHALLOW WATERS AND ITS DENSITY." FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF MARINE EQUIPMENT AND RECONNAISSANCE, THE IRANIAN-MADE SUB IS "ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT IN THE WORLD," IRNA QUOTED THE MINISTER AS SAYING.
THE VESSEL WAS PUT INTO THE WATER TO COINCIDE WITH THE ANNUAL GOVERNMENT WEEK' NORMALLY USED BY TEHRAN TO LAUNCH MILITARY, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
LAST WEEK SHAMKHANI HAD ANNOUNCED 23 INDUSTRIAL, RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURING PROJECTS OF THE DEFENSE ESTABLISHMENT WILL BE LAUNCHED DURING THE NATIONAL OCCASION. (END) AS.JA KUNA 291202 Aug 00NNNN