Satellite images analyzed by Maxar Technologies confirm the presence of Iran’s latest drone ship, Shahid Bagheri, anchored off Bandar Abbas in the Persian Gulf. Once a commercial container ship, it has been converted into a naval drone carrier, equipped with a ski-jump ramp and angled flight deck for drone operations.
The vessel embarked on its first sea trial in late November, accompanied by two similarly modified ships, Shahid Mahdavi and Shahid Roudaki. Images show net-covered drones on deck and modifications carried out at a nearby shipyard.
Although speculation has linked Iran to drone activity near U.S. military sites in New Jersey and New York, both the Pentagon and the White House have denied any foreign involvement. The Iranian vessel remains stationed thousands of miles away, emphasizing its regional drone-launching capability.