Aerial Target Shooting Conducted in Iran-China-Russia Joint Naval Drills
Iran’s Navy successfully carried out day and night aerial target shooting exercises as part of the 2025 Maritime Security Belt joint drills with China and Russia in the northern Indian Ocean, a senior Iranian Navy commander said.
Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajeddini, deputy operations commander of Iran’s Navy, said the night shooting exercise, considered one of the most crucial naval drills, was conducted successfully by participating units. A daytime shooting operation was also carried out, he added.
“The execution of day and night aerial target shooting requires precise coordination and step-by-step orders,” Tajeddini said. He noted that the exercise was designed around a shared tactical language between Iranian naval forces—including the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy—as well as their Chinese and Russian counterparts.
Tajeddini highlighted the key difference between the 2025 Maritime Security Belt drills and previous editions, pointing to the larger number of participating units and countries.
He also emphasized the increased involvement of aerial units, including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, in deeper operational areas.
