---
title: "Iranian Frigate Seen Ablaze After Being Struck In Port"
date: "2026-02-28"
modified: "2026-02-28"
authors:
  - name: "Tyler Rogoway"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway.md"
  - name: "Joseph Trevithick"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick.md"
url: "https://www.twz.com/news-features/iranian-frigate-seen-ablaze-after-being-struck-in-port"
categories:
  - "Around The Globe"
  - "Iran"
  - "Iranian Navy"
  - "Middle East"
  - "Navies"
  - "News & Features"
  - "Sea"
---

# Iranian Frigate Seen Ablaze After Being Struck In Port

![Iranian Navy frigate struck in port in konarak iran.](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/02_burning-vessel_konarak-iran_28feb2026_wv1.jpg>)
*Vantor*

Satellite imagery from Vantor shows what it assesses to be an Iranian *Alvand* class frigate, one of three seen in port in the photo, billowing dark smoke after being struck as part of the U.S. and Israeli air campaign against the country. It's also possible it's another class of ship, but satellite imagery taken the day prior shows an *Alvand* in that berth. The image is the first confirmation of heavy damage or a loss of an Iranian warship since the strikes began. You can read the latest on the conflict in our live coverage [here](<https://www.twz.com/news-features/iran-is-under-attack.md>).

The burning frigate is seen sitting pier-side in Konarak, a port city in Iran's southeastern corner, that sits along the Gulf of Oman and near the Pakistani border.

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/01_overview-of-konarak-naval-base_burning-vessel_konarak-iran_28feb2026_wv1.jpg>)
*The frigate burning in Konarak. (Vantor)*

The location gives Iran closer access to the Indian Ocean, and it's also an area known to be a hotbed of drone and missile capabilities, especially the anti-shipping kind, that can be launched from there to reach far out beyond the Gulf of Oman, putting ships at risk in the Indian Ocean.

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-28-at-1.29.59-PM.jpg>)
*Konarak is a strategic locale for Iran, sitting in its southeastern corner, providing the best access to the Indian Ocean. (Google Earth)*

Vantor also captured drone-launching activities around Konarak, which include the same Shahed-136 types that are currently striking Arab gulf states that are allied with the United States.

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/03_drones-dispersed-at-konarak-airbase_iran_28feb2026_wv1.jpg>)
*Drones, including Shahed-136s seen at a local drone base. (Vantor)*

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/04_drones-dispersed-and-runway-blocked-at-konarak-drone-strip_iran_28feb2026_wv1.jpg>)
*Another drone base near Konarak. (Vantor)*

Though Iran refers to them as frigates, the *[Alvand](<https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/alvand.htm>)*[ class warships](<https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/alvand.htm>) displace around 1,500 tons with a full combat load, putting them in a category more typically described as corvettes. The current Islamic Republic inherited four *Alvand* class vessels from the previous imperial regime, all of which had originally been built in the United Kingdom in the 1970s. U.S. forces sank one of them, the *Sahand*, in 1988, during the Tanker War sideshow to the Iran-Iraq War.

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Maritime_Security_Belt_2019_-_PHOTOEX_40.jpg>)
*(Iranian State Media)*

The ships originally came armed with Italian [Sea Killer anti-ship cruise missiles](<https://www.seaforces.org/wpnsys/SURFACE/MARTE-SSM.htm>), but they were replaced with Chinese [C-802 types (and Iranian clones thereof](<https://www.twz.com/33395/heres-all-thats-left-of-iranian-navy-ship-struck-by-missile-in-friendly-fire-tragedy.md>)) in the 1990s. The design also has a 4.5-inch main gun in a turret on the bow, as well as other smaller guns on mountings elsewhere along the hull. Iran has also since built additional warships based on the *Alvand* design, which are called *[Moudge](<https://www.twz.com/43400/irans-newest-warship-has-fallen-on-its-side-in-a-dry-dock.md>)*[ class frigates or corvettes](<https://www.twz.com/43400/irans-newest-warship-has-fallen-on-its-side-in-a-dry-dock.md>). One of those ships now [also bears the name ](<https://www.twz.com/25797/no-iran-isnt-about-to-send-a-stealth-destroyer-to-venezuela-or-off-the-coast-of-the-u-s.md>)*[Sahand](<https://www.twz.com/25797/no-iran-isnt-about-to-send-a-stealth-destroyer-to-venezuela-or-off-the-coast-of-the-u-s.md>)*. The *Alvand* class and its derivatives are the largest surface combatants in Iranian service today.

*Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com*

## Author
Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day.

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