Vevak,
1) Absolutely and total BS and a weak excuse. Based on that logic, why is the Russian Caspian Flotilla armed to the teeth then? What threat do they face in the Caspian Sea?
2) No idea what you're going on about this vessel being "Iranian-built". What do you call the previous 3 Sina-class vessel that have been commissioned over the last decade or so? Also, I never suggested import anything, but that they made smart use of the more modern weapon designs they've had access to for over 25 years (in the specific case of the AK-630).
3) While "smart shells" can make old guns more dangerous, they have proved to be quite an expensive concept so far, whereas the high rate of fire of the AK-630 allows it a greater certainty of the kill. Should also be noted the Russian still make AK-630 derived CIWS to this day, indicating their faith in the design.
4) It's not the navies of Iran's neighbors that is the reason they should spend more on proper defenses; it's their vastly superior air forces + their more capable surface combatants + a growing fleet of anti-submarine assets.
I could go into more detail but the big takeaway is this: singularly, none of the PG navies are likely to succeed in defeating Iran's combined naval forces. However, if they acted as a united front (in this case, a combined Saudi-UAE force), their combined assets could be a very real threat.
1.Because the Russian can not only take ships out of the Caspian sea via rivers that connect the Caspian Sea to the Black sea but prior to the 70s when they built most of that stuff like the Caspian Sea monster Iran was a U.S. ally & enemies with Russia
2.Again I personally would prefer a smart 40mm rapid fire cannon equipped with smart round over the AK-630 on a relatively small unstable ship like the Sina class FAC
As for any Gatling gun type system Iran is working on them but clearly Iranian versions have not advanced enough so they can be placed on a small 200 tone ship with limited stability that constantly rocks back and forth!
where as smart airburst rounds don't need a direct hit!
And the cost of each round only matters if your a country that's constantly at war! or a country incapable of building the rounds yourself but if you can build them yourself yes they are expensive but NOT that expensive
4. Air Superiority of countries whos bases are all within ~400km of Iran mean absolutely nothing! Within that rang Iran can easily afford to go after individual bunkers with precision guided missiles
So yea if countries like UAE, Bahrain & Kuwait become suicidal they can take out 70% of Iran's blue water navy with their Air Force in a matter of hours but then what??? The leadership of those countries will need to live inside bunkers or leave their own country for the rest of their lives!
The Fatteh-110 has been mass produced by Iran for over 15years & Iran has more "known" Missile factories than these countries have Air Force bases combined!
You think Iran is NOT going to take out the Royal families in the UAE & Bahrain if they become foolish enough to even join the Saudi's in a war against Iran? Let alone attack Iran by themselves!
And Saudi Arabia is another mater because they can move their Air Force to bases beyond 1000km where Iran won't be able to go after individual bunkers!
And Iran knows that so Iran will be going after Saudi Oil, Saudi Refineries, Saudi Ports, Power plants, depots & Factories.....
Regardless, due to both Iran & Saudi Arabia's size, geographical location, financial & military capabilities neither country will be able to have a decisive victory over the other they'll strike at some targets and Iran will strike back destroying each others infrastructure with neither side having the capability of totally destroying the other sides ability to strike back
and each country has it's own distinct advantages
Iran has a far more diverse economy where as the Saudi's are almost fully dependent on Oil but they do have more money and international currency available to them!
Iran produces it's own weapons, with greater military man power, far more skilled workers allowing it's PPP to become more relevant where as the Saudi's have to buy everything but at the same time they have access to American Made weapons, have more money and have no problem selling out their own countries reserves.
Saudi's have to pay on average ~$250 Million USD per each F-15 (Airframe, Maintenance, spare parts, weapons, pilot training & gear, Fuel cost, tools,...) where as Iran can build over 250 $1m missiles for the cost of each F-15
Saudi's can take out a greater number of targets within ~300km of Iran's southern coast line where as Iran would have far greater reach into Saudi territory specially against larger targets & facilities
Saudi Capital is within range of Iran's Zolfaghar & Qiam missiles! Where as the Saudi's are allied with the U.S. who can hit targets deeper inside Iranian territory
Wars aren't won and lost as easy as you think on top of the Iran-Iraq war It took the U.S. over a decade of constant yearly missile attacks & bombing + a decade of sanctions + a decade of covert actions before they worked up the courage to invade a country ruled by a small minority (In 2003 Iraq only had ~1.2 Million Sunni Arab men age 16-60 )
When U.S. conducted Millennial Challenge 2002 you think the big super computer U.S. was using refused to accept that the U.S. can take out +70% of Iran's Blue water Navy in a matter of hours? Clearly NOT! The main question was back then and continues to be today "AND THEN WHAT?"
Iran's Military capabilities in 2002 are NOTHING compared to what they are today.
And on top of the answer the U.S. got in it's own simulation, Iran unlike U.S. allies in the Middle East IS NOT a monarchy and with or without Iran's Supreme Leader, President & top 10 most powerful families in Iran, Iran's policies and alliances are NOT going to shift.
Where as if Iran takes out the Pro U.S. Monarchs in Saudi Arabia, UAE & Bahrain the U.S. & Israel will have a whole new set of problems to deal with in those countries that would rank far higher in U.S. priorities than dealing with Iran! Because then there are American made weapons that could potentially end up in the hands of leaderships that aren't so pro American!
And then instead of war with Iran to turn Iran into a pro U.S. proxy state the U.S. would be scrambling across the middle east trying not to lose it's current proxy states!