Iran commissions stealth submarine

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BANDAR ABBAS, Iran, June 1 (UPI) -- Iran commissioned three new Ghadir-class submarines for its naval fleet at a Monday ceremony, bringing the total number of the sonar-evading vessels to seven.

Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar turned the three submarines over to naval officials at the Bandar Abbas port city near the Straits of Hormuz.

Reports of the submarine in the Iranian Student News Agency say the launch is an effort to "arm the military with new strong capabilities."

The Ghadir class is a smaller vessel with a displacement of around 120 tons. The semiofficial Fars News Agency in 2007 said the Ghadir class was equipped with stealth technology.

The news comes amid a flurry of Iranian defense activity. Iran in May inaugurated a production line for a military hovercraft, dubbed the Younes 6.

Meanwhile, Iran announced the military production of some 20 other military devices, including laser systems and electronic warfare devices. Production also began on a 40mm anti-cruise cannon dubbed Fath, which is capable of reaching targets as far as 7 miles away with a firing rate of 300 rounds per minute.

The Sejjil-2 surface-to-surface solid-fuel missile, meanwhile, was launched in May with a range capable of reaching Israel.