Since Naval News revealed that a suspected Surface-Effect-Ship (SES) has been built in Iran, information has come to light which provides a provisional identification. The vessel is very likely to be the Saba, a mine warfare vessel for the Iranian Navy.
Saba is Iran’s first mine countermeasures ship and will bring new capabilities to the Iranian Navy. This is despite both the Iranian Navy and IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) making extensive use of sea mines.
The adoption of an SES for mine warfare isn’t unique. The Royal Norwegian Navy’s Oksøy and related Alta classes use this technology. They are larger however and use plastic hulls, unlike the Saba which appears to be constructed out of steel.
The vessel may not be a missile craft, as was speculated, but if successful SES technology may find its way into future Iranian warships.
