Mowj Class Light Frigate

[Eagle2009]

asVAL,

Tracking, the now-named "Deylaman" is what Iran-watchers (and official releases) previously called the Damavand-2.

It definitely shows the further evolution of the Mowj-class from 90% Vosper Mk 5 based design to the Sahand's redesigned superstructure and now the further refined Deylaman.

The lack of a SAM system being fitted is odd but not unprecedented as the Sahand also launched and served for some time with no SAMs but was later fitted with Sayyad-2 launchers (though this could have been for test/evaluation).

Another perhaps more subtle evolution is how many major surface combatants of the IRIN/IRGCN are finally fitted with 4-cell AshM launchers

The only clues we have to what it could eventually be fitted with is an accompanying model I've attached that shows 4x Sayyad-2 based launchers and an 8-cell VLS (AD-08 SAMs?) mounted aft of the main gun.

Concerning the radar, not sure what you're referring to as the images you linked to (and I've attached) show antennas on each side of the new mast. They're a little subtle but they do appear to be there.

 

[Eagle2009]

Since I've apparently been slacking lately, here are some interesting images of the Sahand frigate (first to have a redesigned superstructure of the Mowj-class) having a new AD radar and Sayyad SAM launchers installed several years after it was first launched. Some images show 2x Sayyad launchers while others show 4x so it's not certain what the "normal" fit is supposed to be.

The add-on AD radar is quite interesting in design and appears to have been designed to require as little inserted inside the existing structure behind the bridge as possible and looks sizeable enough to properly guide Sayyad-2/3 medium-to-long range SAMs.

 

[Eagle2009]

As part of a larger naval exhibition of some sort today, the IRIN showed off a new bit of kit added to the original Mowj-class, the IRIS Jamaran (76).

Specifically, a 6-cell OWA (One-Way-Attack) launcher just behind the single-barrel 40mm Fath-40 cannon. Whether this has displaced one of the old RIM-66 launchers I can't say. The system is called "Sanjar" and looks very similar to an OWA the IRIN showed off just a month ago called the Shahin-1. It could be that the Sanjar name refers to this larger launcher vs the 2-cell launcher seen previously but that's just a guess on my part.

The drone is claimed to have an 85km range but no further specifications appear to be available.

 

[Eagle2009]

We've got new images showing the Sayyad-3 SAM launchers installed on the Sahand (IRIS 74), showing at least 5x in place vs the 4x previously seen.

Compared to most earlier images, the launchers are now painted to match the hull, which could indicate they are no longer being field-tested but are meant to be permanent armament.

If they are indeed Sayyad-3 missiles onboard, that could provide up to 120km of air defense coverage for the vessel.

 

[Forest Green]

Different day same ship?

Iranian Warship Sahand Capsizes And Sinks - Naval News

One of Iran's most modern frigates, the Sahand, has capsized in Bandar Abbas. Recent upgrades may have made the ship more top-heavy.

www.navalnews.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1809930177792950414

View: https://x.com/vcdgf555/status/1809930177792950414

 

[Eagle2009]

I suspect this incident is going to be looked at with more scrutiny than the previous Mowj-class vessel to encounter such problems (IRIS Damavand), as it could be logically blamed on a nasty storm...

This time, not so much.

There is a lot of discussion going on X about whether the armament/sensor upgrade in the last few years may have made the vessel a bit too top-heavy. After a quick bit of research, the Mowj-class' beam of just ~11 meters does make it a bit "skinny" compared to modern vessels of similar length.

That said, if you compare its dimensions with vessels of the original Vosper Mk 5's era (late 60s/early 70s), such as the MEKO 140 light frigate, that beam look very typical.

I suspect this is because speed (a major selling point of the Vosper design) is no longer seen as a useful trait in corvettes/light frigates today as there are many vessels of this (and larger) that seem content with a top speed of 25-27 or so knots vs the Vosper Mk 5's 39 knots.

 

[TomS]

There is a lot of discussion going on X about whether the armament/sensor upgrade in the last few years may have made the vessel a bit too top-heavy.

I wonder if they did a proper inclining study before they started piling on the weight. It's not a trivial exercise.