Exclusive: Iran to Begin Sea Trials of Second Oil Tanker Converted into Combat Drone Launch Ship.

According to information released on Mehdi H.'s X (formerly Twitter) account on April 30, 2025, Iran is preparing to launch sea trials of its newest forward base drone-launcher ship, IRIS Kurdestan (442), signaling another strategic milestone in the evolution of its naval forces. Like its predecessor, the IRIS Makran (441), the Kurdestan is a converted crude oil tanker—originally known as Tabukan (IMO: 8917467)—which has undergone an extensive transformation to support expeditionary naval operations. The conversion has been carried out by the Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex Co. (ISOICO), a major naval industrial entity located near Bandar Abbas. This move reflects a deliberate shift in Iranian maritime doctrine, focused on asymmetric capabilities and strategic power projection.
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IRIS Kurdestan (442) seen ahead of its maiden sea trials—converted from a crude oil tanker into a forward base ship capable of launching combat drones and supporting long-range naval missions. (Picture source:  Mehdi H. X account)

The vessel, built in 1992, measures approximately 183 meters in length with a beam of 32.23 meters. It had an original gross tonnage of 29,506 and a deadweight tonnage of 45,425. Before being acquired by Iran, the ship operated under the flag of Togo. The technical specifications highlight the ship's capability to be repurposed into a sizable floating base: its substantial tonnage and length provide ample space for equipment, personnel, and operational modules. Its wide beam offers inherent stability, a crucial attribute for UAV operations and helicopter landings at sea.

The transformation of Tabukan into IRIS Kurdestan involves significant structural modifications to support its new role as a forward base ship. Most visibly, the upper deck has been redesigned to incorporate a large helipad, suitable for helicopter and UAV operations. This addition aligns with Iran’s broader strategy of enhancing its naval reach through the adaptation of civilian maritime infrastructure into military platforms. The deck has also been cleared and potentially reinforced to accommodate modular mission containers, logistics support systems, and mobile command-and-control facilities.

The internal reconfiguration of the vessel is believed to include maintenance workshops, accommodations for a large crew, storage for fuel and ordnance, and facilities for launching and recovering unmanned aerial systems. While not designed for direct combat, Kurdestan will serve as a mobile logistics and support hub, extending the Iranian Navy’s operational radius into distant maritime zones without the need for shore-based resupply.

This approach mirrors the earlier conversion of the IRIS Makran, which has already demonstrated the value of such platforms by serving as a mobile sea base capable of supporting a broad spectrum of operations including UAV missions and special forces deployments. These converted vessels enable Iran to exert sustained naval presence and influence in areas of strategic interest such as the North Indian Ocean, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Red Sea.

Iran’s motivation for developing forward base ships like the Kurdestan stems from the structural limitations of its conventional naval force. Without aircraft carriers or a fleet of modern blue-water warships, Tehran has focused on innovative, cost-effective solutions. Repurposing large commercial tankers into multi-role naval platforms allows Iran to circumvent technological and economic barriers while still achieving strategic depth and reach.

From a geopolitical and military perspective, the commissioning of the Kurdestan introduces a new dimension of complexity for regional and international naval forces, particularly the United States and its allies. These vessels act as force multipliers, enabling the deployment of ISR assets, electronic warfare tools, special operations forces, and asymmetric attack systems such as UAVs and loitering munitions. Their hybrid civilian-military nature also presents a legal and tactical challenge—blurring the lines of engagement in crowded maritime corridors.

Emerging threats to the U.S. and allied forces stem directly from this growing Iranian naval capability. These forward base ships pose strategic challenges in several ways. First, their ability to operate in international waters near key chokepoints—such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb, or even the Red Sea—creates a persistent presence that can be leveraged for power projection or disruption of commercial traffic. Their unclear status—neither purely military nor commercial—makes them harder to classify and track under international maritime law.

Second, they significantly bolster Iran’s asymmetric warfare toolkit. From these platforms, Iran can deploy UAV swarms, launch electronic warfare attacks, or support hybrid operations using proxy naval units like Houthi maritime forces. These capabilities can directly threaten U.S. and allied surface ships, commercial shipping routes, and even critical undersea infrastructure. With the proliferation of loitering munitions and long-endurance UAVs, these sea bases could stage persistent surveillance and precision attacks against targets of opportunity.

Finally, these vessels can serve as intelligence hubs—relaying targeting data, monitoring maritime traffic, and jamming communications or GPS signals. In contested maritime environments, the presence of Kurdestan and ships like it will force U.S. and allied navies to maintain higher levels of readiness and response flexibility. The sea trials and eventual operational deployment of this ship will be closely monitored by regional actors and NATO maritime commands, as it may represent a shift in Iran’s capacity to contest and disrupt Western naval superiority in increasingly wider maritime domains.

The addition of the Kurdestan reinforces Iran’s commitment to maritime expansion and highlights its ability to innovate under sanctions and resource constraints. While these converted tankers lack the firepower of modern warships, they are strategic assets capable of reshaping regional maritime dynamics. For Western forces, adapting to this threat will require enhanced surveillance, flexible deterrent options, and stronger maritime partnerships across the Gulf and Indian Ocean region. The sea trials of IRIS Kurdestan may prove to be a pivotal development in assessing Iran’s future naval posture.