Iran official: We have obtained the S-300 missile system

[Large Sarge]

(if this is true, it is a real game changer for Iran, in their favor)

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/iran-official-we-have-obtained-the-s-300-missile-system-1.305954




Iran official: We have obtained the S-300 missile system
Fars news agency says Tehran signs deal with Belarus after Russia reportedly refused to provide Iran with the surface-to-air system over recent UN sanctions.
By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service
A semiofficial Iranian news agency says Iran has obtained four S-300 surface-to-air missiles despite Russia's refusal to deliver them.

A Russian-made S-300 missile

Photo by: Kremlin

The Fars news agency said Wednesday that Iran has obtained two missiles from Belarus and two others from another unspecified source.

Russia signed a contract in 2007 to sell the missiles to Iran but said in June that new UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran prevent delivery. The sale would have substantially boosted the country's defense capacities, raising Israeli fears it would tip the military balance in the Middle East.

In June, a senior Iranian official said that that if Russia persisted in its refusal "to deliver the systems, we are well capable of producing missile defense systems that are very much similar to Russia's S-300 apparatus."

Since the recently approved UN sanctions resolution against Iran, Russia has released several contradicting reports regarding it missile deal with Iran.

The senior Iranian official added that if Russia eventually refused "to deliver the systems, we are well capable of producing missile defense systems that are very much similar to Russia's S-300 apparatus."

Since the UN sanctions resolution against Iran was approved last Wednesday, Russia has released several contradicting reports regarding it missle deal with Iran. Russia said on Thursday it was in discussions with Iran on possible new nuclear power plants in the Islamic state, the country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters


Israel and the United States have asked Russia not to deliver the missile systems, which can shoot down several aircraft or missiles simultaneously and could potentially be used to protect nuclear facilities.

Western diplomats in Moscow believe Russia is eager to keep the deal in reserve as a bargaining chip. Iran has expressed increasing frustration over the unfulfilled contract.

[Ponce]

Only when you wear a gun and show it will thieves leave alone.........I hope that they can get at least 100 more.

[Phoenix]

Is that four individual missiles, or four batteries?

The former means nothing, the latter is only marginally better.

[joe_momma]

Wikipedia's write up makes this seem like a non-issue

Missile range 75/100km
Dual tube (radar system can track 100 objects, engage up to 12)
~30 minute cold launch capability


I suspect that if deployed, they'll be hit my stealth before the "unidentified" planes enter even Saudi airspace (let alone Iranian).

The capability to knock down 4 objects may require the 'evil joos" to re-think the PR strategy if an Israeli plane should show up on Iranian soil shortly after the nuclear refineries turn to dust - but this smacks of NorK level desperation to remain relevant.

(On the plus side, the whole product line is maintenance free - which eases the burden of wog servicing - can't speak for radar and CnC systems.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-300_%28missile%29

[Phoenix]

I suspect that if deployed, they'll be hit my stealth before the "unidentified" planes enter even Saudi airspace (let alone Iranian).


The "stealth" bomber is a joke. S-300 can knock them down.

It is stealthy only to Third World and/or first-generation equipment.

[DMac]

There is more than 1 version of the S-300 defense system, the article does not mention which was sold by Belarus (a country I would not trust if I were Iran! They are very cold and hungry).

A comment is spot on at the article source, remember the Greeks allowing Israel to practice defeating the S-300 not too long ago?

[DMac]

I suspect that if deployed, they'll be hit my stealth before the "unidentified" planes enter even Saudi airspace (let alone Iranian).


The "stealth" bomber is a joke. S-300 can knock them down.

It is stealthy only to Third World and/or first-generation equipment.


I think you are mixing up the revamped S-300 with the new S-500 defense system. The S-500 can take down NATO stealth. The S-300 sold to Iran, likely not.

[Phoenix]

I suspect that if deployed, they'll be hit my stealth before the "unidentified" planes enter even Saudi airspace (let alone Iranian).


The "stealth" bomber is a joke. S-300 can knock them down.

It is stealthy only to Third World and/or first-generation equipment.


I think you are mixing up the revamped S-300 with the new S-500 defense system. The S-500 can take down NATO stealth. The S-300 sold to Iran, likely not.


Word around is that it's model S-300PMU-1. Belarus replaced them with S-300PS. I'm confident that the 1992 version can engage a B-2.

[Ponce]

As long as it hits any Israel plane invading their air space that's all that I care about.....American planes? I know that they have more sense than to fly over Iran's territory ;D

[Plastic]

I'll wager 5 cents to a doughnut that these missiles will not be deployed, they will however be chopped to pieces for back-engineering if they hav'nt been already.

[mightymanx]

Cool they can combine this with Iraq's "yellow cake" circa 2002 shake, filter through the ministry of truth and presto another war.

Is there any reason to wonder why arabs don't like us?

[gunDriller]

Only when you wear a gun and show it will thieves leave alone.........I hope that they can get at least 100 more.


or 1000 or 10,000.

Iran is one of the most peaceful countries on Earth. they haven't started a war for about 200 years.

they were also a democracy until the US & England intervened in their affairs in the 1950's.

Israel is making the assumption that Iran doesn't already have nuclear weapons.

from a military point of view, that is a very stupid assumption, given Iran's size, history, allies (Russian and China), and financial and people resources.