Russia to honour Iran missile deal

Gulf Times ^ | 1/14/2010 | AFP/Moscow

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Russia plans to honour a deal to deliver an advanced surface-to-air missile system to Iran, a senior Russian official said yesterday according to Interfax news agency. Vladimir Nazarov, deputy secretary of the Russian security council, said there was no reason not to send Iran the S-300 missile system, in comments reported by the agency. “A contract was signed which we must fulfill, but deliveries have not started yet. This transaction is not subject to any international sanctions as it only involves the delivery of purely defensive weapons,” Nazarov said. “On the other hand, all of our actions must contribute to global and regional stability, respecting the law and international agreements,” he said. Russia has given vague details on progress in the contract and angry Iranian officials blame the delay on growing pressure from the United States and Iran’s arch-foe Israel. Last week Tehran boasted it was creating its own air defence missile system which would be better than the S-300. However it also threatened legal action in November if Moscow failed to honour the 800 million dollar deal, which involves five batteries of S-300PMU1 missiles. The S-300PMU1 -- codenamed the SA-20 Gargoyle by NATO -- is a mobile system designed to shoot down aircraft and cruise missiles. Western governments fear Iran could use the system to boost defences around its nuclear sites against any Israeli or US air strike. Neither country has ruled out using a military strike on Tehran’s nuclear sites to prevent the Islamic republic acquiring an atomic bomb. Iran insists its uranium enrichment project is purely for peaceful purposes. On Wednesday, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said new sanctions on Iran were more likely following Tehran’s announcement it had started work to produce 20 percent enriched uranium.

[mcshot]

I think the world will be assuredly screwed if they get the Russky 300 system. Then the battle will begin in retaliation for their nuclear strikes vs stopping them from wielding nukes. 2012 is starting to seem optimistic.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

I really do not think so. The Israelis and the USAF have been always one step ahead when it comes to electronic warfare. If the Israelis managed to jam the Syrian’s Intergrated Defense Systems in Operation Orchard they can do it again.

[STD]

Syria only had obsolete SA-2 missiles

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The Syrians never mentioned the other systems they had online during Operation Orchard.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a2710d024-5eda-416c-b117-ae6d649146cd

[stephenjohnbanker]

Good point

[SeminoleSoldier]

Will this be as effective as the stuff they sold the Syrians?

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

I think that the Russians/Syrians learned from their mistakes and fixed and problems. This time, though it may be a bit trickier, I think that the Israelis can pull it off.