Subordinate to: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy Command.

Other Names: Bendar Abbas

Location: Latitude 27° 11' North; longitude 56° 16' East; 1078km southeast of Tehran; province of Hormozgan

Primary Function: Testing, assembly, manufacture, and upgrade of Chinese-built cruise missiles such as the HY-2 Seersucker and C-801 Sardine. Reportedly, it also has built a land-based missile launch site.

Description and Activities:
The city of Bandar Abbas is one of Iran's major ports. It is located 1078km southeast of Tehran in the province of Hormozgan. Bandar Abbas hosts a missile site overseen by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy Command. The Chinese built this facility in 1987. The facility assembles and extends the range of Silkworm missiles, modifies Seersucker missiles, and manufactures rockets. The Chinese may be assisting the IRGC in extending the range to 400km. Bandar Abbas also is believed to host a launch site with three to six launchers for the land-based Silkworm.

As a port, Bandar Abbas is a major point of delivery for missiles, weapons components, and conventional arms to Iran. In February 1992, North Korea transferred 80 Scud missiles to Iran and an additional 30 to Syria, via Bandar Abbas. US attempts to intercept this missile shipment were unsuccessful. In the spring of 1992, the North Korean ship Dae Hung Ho also delivered missile parts to Bandar Abbas before they were flown to Syria

In 1996, Iran purchased 10 more Houdong fast-attack craft (FAC) from China, some of which are deployed near Bandar Abbas. These craft are equipped to fire Saccade C-802 missiles. The precise number of C-802s purchased by Iran is not known, but sources believe Iran has armed approximately 20 FAC with Saccades. In January 1996, Iran reportedly test fired a Saccade missile, causing the United States to reassess Iran's potential threat to shipping in the region.

Bandar Abbas also hosts Kilo class submarines delivered by the Russians, reportedly armed with missiles.

Key Sources: Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," in William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds. The International Missile Bazaar: The New Supplier's Network (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994), p. 66; John Pike, "Bandar Abbas," <http://www.fas.org/guide/iran/facility/bandar_abbas.htm>; Anthony Cordesman, Threats and Non-Threats from Iran (Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 26 January 1995); "Iranian Commentary Calls US Claims of Missile Test 'Propaganda','' Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Tehran), 31 January 1996; in FBIS Document FTS19960131000346, 31 January 1996; Reuters, "US sees threat to Gulf shipping from Iran missiles," Financial Times (London), 31 January 1996, p.8; via Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; "Second Sub for Iran," The Washington Post, 4 August 1993, p.A12; via Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Anthony H. Cordesman, Iran's Evolving Conventional Military Forces, Working Draft (Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 28 February 1996); Anthony H. Cordesman, Iran and Nuclear Weapons (Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 7 February 2000); "Navy on Alert Since Arrival of Korean Freighter," Sawt Al-Kuwayt Al-Duwali (London), 12 March 1992, pp.1, 11; in Proliferation Issues, 26 March 1992, pp.32-33; Melissa Healy, "Suspect Vessel Eludes US Net, Docks in Iran," Los Angeles Times, 11 March 1992, p.A1, A9; "Rafsanjani's Bomb," Mednews, 8 June 1992, pp.1-5.