[Flavius]

According to the officials of Tor's manufacturer Antey and Russian state-owned arms sales company Rosvooruzheniye, Greece purchased 21 Tor-M1 SAM systems, that will be delivered by Russia within the next 15 months. The contracts signed by Greece and Rosvooruzheniye also provides Greece with an option to purchase 29 more of these systems under the same conditions.

Antey announced a planned release of a new variant of Tor-M1 anti-aircraft missile system. The new model, designated Tor-M1T, will be more affordable than the original Tor-M1 and will come in three versions: mobile, towed, and stationary.

[Flavius]

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Iran has signed a deal to buy Russian tactical surface-to-air missile systems, a Russian newspaper reported on Friday.

Iran is to buy 29 TOR-M1 systems, designed to bring down aircraft and guided missiles at low altitudes, said the Vedomosti daily, citing Russian defense sources close the deal.

The deal is the biggest sale of Russian defense hardware to Iran for about 5 years, the newspaper said. It did not say how much the order was worth.

Defense industry officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Tehran is under intense international pressure after failing to convince the United States and others its nuclear scientists are working on fuel for power stations rather than bombs.

Russia is helping Iran build a nuclear power station at Bushehr.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsAr...-IRAN-ARMS.xml

[MRadtke]

I think they want to attack/invade Iraq as soon as the U.S. leaves.

[Atlantic Bridge]

This guy who is commentating the manoevers in this video is a feast for my ears. Very funny.

BTW - lots of US-made material. This is what happens if millitary goods are sold to dictators. No matter which colour they represent.

[TheBattman]

All humor aside, if there is a possibility that we will be in a fight directly with Iran (and not just the terrorists they are sending across the border), we are in for a bit more of a "fight" than the Iraqis put up.

The Iranians are a great deal better equipped and organized than the Iraqis have been for over a decade. I would venture to say that the Iranians expect us to take them on in the near future - either because of their nuclear program, or because Iran has eyes on hitting Iraq soon after our departure (maybe the reason the liberals and some weak-kneed RINOs keep talking about deadlines?).

IT's going to take a far stronger stomach for a war with Iran than Iraq. I for one hope it doesn't come to it - too bad limp-wristed Jimmy Carter chose to not do anything....

[Gefreiter]

Not sure what we see in that video. I saw about a half-dozen Chinooks, some old UH1s, and a couple of Cobras, probably Huey vintage as well.

I saw some engineers push a bridge around, and a bulldozer. And maybe a company's worth of armor and mech infantry maneuvering.

Nothing I saw here demonstrated anything but reasonable competency in driving.

I think the biggest threat from Iran is not its battlefield systems but its intelligence apparatus and its sponsorship for terrorism.

[ASA Vet]

MI Ping

Attention: Iran OB desk.

[Tommyjo]

They have been doing these exercises for years. Ever since the end of the Iraq-Iran war the Iranian military has conducted annual large scale exercises.

[Tommyjo]

In fact the Iranians haven't started their annual military exercises as of yet.

The footage is from last years major military exercise conducted during the summer. Exact same snippets of F-14s, MiG-29s etc.

[dr_who_2]

No crises today. Between the press, democrats, and the out-to-lunch public, nothing will happen until Iran bombs us.