The Venezuelan Navy has reportedly fielded Peykaap III fast attack craft from Iran, a development that could alter naval security dynamics in the Caribbean. Footage circulating online shows the high-speed vessels operating in Venezuelan waters, though independent confirmation is pending. Developed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy, the 17-meter Peykaap III can exceed 50 knots and is optimized for swarm tactics in confined waters. Armed with heavy machine guns and anti-ship missiles like the CM-90 (range up to 90 km), it provides a disproportionate threat to larger vessels. These boats can execute hit-and-run strikes on maritime infrastructure or naval assets, bolstering Venezuela’s asymmetric naval power. Defense experts caution that their deployment could challenge regional patrol forces and shift the balance in the southern Caribbean.
