Iran has inaugurated its first drone-carrier warship, saying the vessel is capable of operating in oceans far from its mainland.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have taken delivery of the country's first ship capable of launching drones and helicopters at sea, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.Amid military exercises lasting from early January to early March,

Iran has unveiled its first drone-carrier warship, a vessel the country claims can operate far from its shores, The Associated Press reported on Thursday, citing Iran’s official IRNA news agency.

With a 180-meter-long runway for drones, the vessel can travel up to 22,000 nautical miles without needing to refuel in ports. The report said it was converted from a commercial ship and would increase Iran’s power of deterrence.

Iran on Thursday unveiled the Shahid Bagheri, the nation’s first drone-carrier warship. According to a report in the Islamic Republic News Agency, the vessel comes equipped with a 180-meter runway for the hundreds of drones it will carry. The ship can also hold helicopters and fire cruise missiles.

Iran has finally shown a drone taking off and landing on – in the latter case with the help of arresting gear – the deck of the country’s unusual new ‘drone carrier,’ the Shahid Bagheri. Newly emerged imagery also shows various drones and crewed helicopters on the flight deck,

Iran has commissioned its first aircraft carrier, the Shahid Bagheri (C110-4), which was developed from the container ship Perarin as part of a programme to convert large commercial vessels for military purposes.