Moudge-class frigate

The Moudge or Mouj or Mowj () is a class of domestically-produced Iranian light frigates. The class appeared to be a development of the .

Classification Iran officially classifies these ships as destroyers, but this is rejected by most navies internationally.

Sources differ in specifying the type of the class, either as light frigate or corvette. Alternatively, they have also been described as destroyer escorts. For instance, Jane's Fighting Ships classifies the class as FFG or frigate while the Military Balance of the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), designates the ships in the class as FSGM or corvette.

History A Moudge-class ship was first reported to be under construction in 2001. Warship International wrote in 2008 that four ships of this class were under construction: Mowj (376) launched on 22 February 2007, Jamaran (377) launched on 28 November 2007, as well as Azarakhsh (378) and Tondar (379).

The first ship, Jamaran was stationed in the port of Bandar Abbas. Damavand is the second ship in this class. Damavand was constructed at the Shahid Tamjidi Marine Industries (STMI) fabrication shop on the Caspian Sea at Bandar-e Anzali. The frigate was launched in March 2013.

In January 2018, Damavand, based out of Bandar-Anzali on the Caspian Sea, ran aground on a concrete breakwater in the vicinity of its home port. It was reportedly caused by navigational error, compounded by a strong storm that created high waves and low visibility. During the incident, six members of the ship's crew fell overboard. Four of those crew members were later rescued, and two were considered missing by media sources. The Iranian Navy declined to confirm the reporting. There has been little information released in reference to the cause of the grounding, with the exception of statements of wave height and visibility caused by the storm at the time of the grounding. Photos from 2018 show that the ship's hull broke apart near the waterline approximately at the start of the ship's aircraft deck.

The Iranian Navy commissioned Dena in Bandar Abbas in June 2021.

Future units of the Moudge class are to be equipped with the Sayyad-2 anti-aircraft missiles.

During construction, the frigate Talaiyeh capsized while in dry dock. One member of the Iranian Navy was killed in the incident. No official reports have been released by the Iranian authorities.

While in port at Bandar Abbas Sahand capsized on 7 July 2024 before sinking on 9 July 2024.

Ships in the class Image Ship Pennantnumber Shipyard Laid down Launched Commissioned Status 76 Naval Factories, Bandar Abbas 2001 or 2004 28 November 2007 19 February 2010 Sunk by U.S. airstrike on 28 February 2026, during the 2026 Iran war. 77 Shahid Tamjidi, Bandar Anzali 2009 28 November 2007 9 March 2015 Sunk during storm in the Caspian Sea on 28 January 2018 and scrapped. A replacement vessel Deylaman was constructed. (named after the earlier Sahand) 74 Naval Factories, Bandar Abbas 2010 18 September 2012 1 December 2018 Sunk on 9 July 2024. On 29 November 2025, IRIS Sahand was recommissioned after reconstruction and repair. She was destroyed in the 2026 Iran war. 75 Shahid Darvishi, Bandar Abbas 2012 2015 13 June 2021 Sunk by a US submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka on 4 March 2026, during the 2026 Iran war. 78 Shahid Tamjidi, Bandar Anzali 2017 27 November 2023 The replacement vessel of the sunk Damavand. Sunk during strikes by the Israeli Air Force in the Caspian Sea on 18 March 2026. (ex-Talaieh)313 Naval Factories, Bandar Abbas 2013 2016 15 January 2025 Converted to a SIGINT ship after significant damage in an accident during construction. Suspected to have been sunk in March 2026. TBA Shahid Darvishi, Bandar Abbas 2014 2017 Under construction.

Moudge-class frigate

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