The Iranian navy on Friday deployed home-grown military equipment including a submarine and a cruise missile on the second day of exercises near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The submarine dubbed the Fateh — Persian for “Conquerer” — was seen in action for the first time and sailed up the Indian Ocean, the military said on its website. The near 600-tonne sub is equipped with torpedoes, mines and cruise missiles, and can stay underwater at a depth of more than 200 metres (650 feet) for up to 35 days, according to Iranian media. Unveiled last year, it is Iran's first submarine in the semi-heavy category, filling a gap between its light Ghadir class and heavy Kilo class submarines.

It is equipped with an advanced sonic radar system and uses a missile defence system.

Iran’s Navy deployed its first submarine some two decades ago and has succeeded in acquiring advanced technology in this sector despite all the sanctions imposed against the country.

Dubbed “Zolfaghar 99”, the three-day exercises are being held over waters stretching from the northern Indian Ocean to the eastern end of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of world oil output passes.

The Iranian navy also test-fired a “Ghader” land-to-sea cruise missile first unveiled in 2014, saying it successfully hit its target at a distance of over 200 kilometres (124 miles).The installation of missile systems “all across the country's southern coast has enabled us to target any threat at sea from any point,” navy commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said.

The missile is capable of being employed both from shore and from ships afloat.