Once again, S-300 missiles promised to Iran

Following this story from Iranian deal to buy S-300 missilles from Russia, there has been rolllercoaster from this issue in media and politics. Again its on - this time Russian talks and FARS are reporting...

Official: Moscow Committed to Delivery of S-300 Missiles to Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- Russia is committed to its agreement for the delivery of the anti-aircraft S-300 missile system to Iran, Head of Russia's Technical and Military Cooperation Agency Michael Dmitriev said.

Dmitriev made the remarks at a press conference in Slovakia's capital city Bratislava on Wednesday, adding "The S-300s contract with Iran has not been annulled and Russia would honor and implement it."

He added, "Negotiations with the Iranian side on implementing the S300s contract are still going on."

english.farsnews.com...

Delivery of these missiles are very good example from situation, where we really are, and how we still dont know if Russia and China is in Iranian side or not. If these missiles get delivered, then we can say that SCO is backing Iran, and they are against any strikes against muslim world.

What we know, is that S-300 missile systems has been ready to deploy in Belarus airbase over a year now, when in time of Cast Lead those were delivered there, but then deployment of missiles was canceled because of political reasons.

Russian officers are, at least with my knowldge still working and training Iranian counterparts to use these systems in Iran - when ever those new systems are coming to country. Number of Russian specialists inside Iran was with last news I have read over 50 in country.

Now, today when Iranian question is on the table in UN, question about delivering these missiles is again one of top stories. If Russians and Chinese are not backing "decisive" sanctions and then Russia will deliver these missiles to Iran - then we see where lines in this great political battle really goes today.

So - Once again - dont forget the facts, and keeping eyes in those famous S-300 missiles! No matter how this end up - I have already come to conclusion that this deal is the most famous and most difficult arms trade ever done.

[edit on 9-4-2010 by JanusFIN]

Russia is clearly playing games with the Iranians over this issue...This missile system was supposed to be operational how long ago ?

Russia is doing its usual fence-sitting thing...Holding off on agreeing to increased sanctions, and holding off on delivery of the missile system...To see if it can gain some sort of advantage for itself (political, strategic, financial), regardless of how the situation with Iran plays out...

If the Iranians think they have a solid ally in Russia, they are easily fooled...Russia has proven time and again how treacherous it it is and how it is not to be trusted on the international stage just like the EU and US

Edit to add - Nice one again, Janus How you find the time to keep ATS in the loop with regard to happenings in the ME I'll never know

[edit on 9/4/2010 by Retrovertigo]

So we are heading to this - S-300 is copied by Iranians, so there is no need to buy systems made in Russia, but same missiles will be produced in Iran. So it looks like by new report just bublished!

This is win-win for both, Russia and Iran - and US/Israel cant blame anyone in this critical issue... Very smart Mrs Putin, once again!

Report: Iran producing air defense missile

Islamic Republic's defense minister says new missile named Mersad 'can destroy modern planes in low and medium altitudes'

AFP, Published: 04.11.10, 11:03 / Israel News

Iran has started mass-producing a new medium-range anti-aircraft missile, state media reported on Sunday quoting Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi.

Vahidi said the missile named Mersad (Ambush) "can destroy modern planes in low and medium altitudes," without elaborating on its actual range.

www.ynetnews.com...

Press TV related:

Iran brings 'Mersad' missile on stream

Iran says its first domestically-built air defense system, which is said to be more powerful than the US-made Hawk missile, is ready to become operational.

Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said Sunday that the anti-aircraft missile, dubbed Mersad (Ambush), features cutting-edge technology that makes it able to “destroy modern aircrafts at low and medium altitudes.”

Mersad is also equipped with sophisticated radar signal processing technology, an advanced launcher, and contains exclusive electronic equipment for guidance and target acquisition.

“The state-of-the-art technology used in Mersad links it to other anti-aircraft batteries and provides it with the unique ability to combat electronic warfare," he continued, adding that the dynamic system features capabilities that are superior than those in the US-made Hawk missile, which Iran purchased in the 1970s.

www.presstv.com...

Unless these systems come with some sort of super-radar that can render stealth aircraft visible, they are useless. Don't think for a second that the Israeli's don't have stealth, or can't get it if they really wanted, since they are pretty much leading congress and senate around by their family jewels.

reply to post by JanusFIN


Thanks

It seems the game continues on a almost daily rate unabated... I wonder how many aces up the sleeves each side currently holds??

Tho saying your starting mass production of an air defence system either means you've already got it in place, OR you've just shortened the time scale of the hawks to act..

Either way I am sure there will be more aces to play from all sides.. and more deals to be struck

I do find it strange (not) that the S300 reports only appearto come out when Russia is at or approaching the negotiating table

Not just missiles, but new radars are also soon operational:

Iran to replace Persian Gulf radar

This comes only a day after Iran announced that the country's first indigenous air defense system, dubbed Mersad (Ambush), is ready to become operational.

www.presstv.com...

- Domestic build? Yeah - right!

Ok - this is really taking high volume speculations here...

CONNECTING THE DOTS:

2.4. 2010 China announced that they have bought Russian air defence missiles with 2.5 Billion dollars from Russia.
www.reuters.com...

9.4. 2010 Russia official confirmed that S-300 Missiles are on their way to Iran soon as possible.
english.farsnews.com...

11.4. 2010 Iran announced that "Mersad" missile system is soon to be delivered and operational.
presstv.ir...

12.4. 2010 Iran announced that new Radars are taking their place in Gulf.
www.presstv.ir...

And in latest headlines we hear "Fury" about Russian systems delivered:
"Fury as Russia sells its missile system to Iran - Exclusive"
www.abovetopsecret.com...

CONCLUSION AT THIS MOMENT: (Following closely still this crucial issue)

Operarion "Mersad" is going on...

Russians are delivering fast their air defences to Iran in cooperation with Chinese. In media, or official statements we see that Iran is producing those them self as "Mersad" systems, but cover operation here is obvious.

Lets see - storm is just gathering its force now.

reply to post by JanusFIN


I'm trying to work out, who is trying to push who into action first?

I guess we are all waiting for the first mistake that will lead us down the bumpy path..

Well since the S-300 is a good system even now for iran it could act as a deterrent i'm sure any air defense is better than the rocks with rockets attached to them is. xD

just what crazy arab nations int he middle east need. more weapons!

reply to post by Ong Bak

Lets not forget the fact - These are 100% defensive weapons.

Every sovereign country has (or should have) all the rights to buy defensive weaponry as they wish for.

Originally posted by JanusFIN

Lets not forget the fact - These are 100% defensive weapons.

Every sovereign country has (or should have) all the rights to buy defensive weaponry as they wish for.

That is exactly why Russia are now selling these very effective DEFENSE systems to a great many small countries all around the world.

They cannot be used for offensive purposes, only to defend, and that has to be a very good thing.

I am sure Iran will very quickly reverse engineer these, and come up with something at least as good, or even better themselves.
And good for them.

Russia Russia's delivery of S-300 missiles to Iran 'not hit by UN sanctions'

Proposed new UN sanctions against Iran will not stop Russia from fulfilling its contract to deliver S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to the Islamic Republic, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Friday.

"This draft resolution does not affect existing contracts between Russia and Iran," the head of the upper house's international relations committee, Mikhail Margelov, said.

The so-called Iran Six - the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia - discussed on Tuesday a draft Security Council resolution expanding sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

Observers say however the delivery of Russian S-300s will be prohibited under the draft resolution, which includes a ban on the supply of defensive weapons to Iran.

But Margelov called the draft resolution "balanced" and said the proposed sanctions are not "paralyzing or suffocating."

"We are talking only about those inevitable measures which might be needed if Iran does not play by the IAEA rules," he said.

"Russia is a responsible seller of any of its products on foreign markets and we are not interested in the militarization of the [Middle East] region," Margelov told reporters.

Moscow signed a contract on supplying Iran with at least five S-300 systems in December 2005. However, the contract's implementation by Russia has so far been delayed.

The United States and Israel have called on Russia not to deliver the missiles to Iran.

The West is also concerned by Russia's role in helping Iran to build its first nuclear power plant in Bushehr. The head of the Russian State Atomic Energy corporation, Sergei Kiriyenko, said last week the plant will begin operating by late summer.

MOSCOW, May 21 (RIA Novosti)

en.rian.ru...

Originally posted by warpcrafter
Unless these systems come with some sort of super-radar that can render stealth aircraft visible, they are useless. Don't think for a second that the Israeli's don't have stealth, or can't get it if they really wanted...

Absolutely correct. Israel is the United States' lynchpin in the Middle East. If they say they need more equipment/money for national defense the American Government will do as much as they reasonably can to comply with the request. Without Israel the ability for the US to project its foreign policy in the region will be severely hampered. Bottom line, they need to keep their bulwark intact and rightly so, this is politics.

reply to post by dontblink

The U.S. don't need Israel. It already has a large military base in Qatar, right on the Persian Gulf.