Catching up on this week's news and was surprised to see Iran has commissioned their first "aircraft carrier". I put it in quotes as it will only launch drones and helicopters but still more than I would have expected from Iran. I'm assuming this was what New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew was referencing when he blamed an Iranian drone mothership for those drone sightings.
Anyways, just an interesting piece of news that flew underneath my radar and might have slipped past yours as well. I question its value as anything more than a status symbol and a propaganda piece but would love to get the opinion of more seasoned Sailors. Might make a pretty cool artificial reef someday.
Iran inaugurates its first drone-carrier warship
Iran has inaugurated its first drone-carrier warship, saying the vessel is capable of operating in oceans far from its mainland.apnews.com
It's a run-of-the-mill G3 commercial ship with a "flight deck" bolted on the deck. It's about as much an actual aircraft carrier as this was a real panda:
