Iran equips Soviet-era helicopters with naval mines

The navy of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has equipped its Soviet-built Mil Mi-17 helicopters with naval mines.

The second episode of the five-part documentary series “Iranian Weapon”, which aired on 14 February, included footage of a Mi-17 helicopter equipped with an Iranian-made Maham-II naval mine, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported on February 15.

Maham-II weighs 350kg, has sonic and magnetic sensors and can be placed anywhere from 10m to 20m below the sea surface. The mine can "destroy" vessels weighing as much as 250 tonnes and going as fast as 27.8 km per hour, according to the report.

It added that the navy helicopters can "carry out minelaying operations".