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Re: спекуляции Джейнс про С-300 и Иран?

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Conflicting claims emerge over sale of S-300s to Iran

Alon Ben-David JDW Correspondent
Tel Aviv

Russia and Iran have made several contradicting statements regarding the sale of Russian S-300PMU2 Favorit (SA-20 'Gargoyle') air defence systems to the Islamic Republic.

However, the potential sale of the advanced 200 km-range S-300PMU2 air defence system is already raising concern in the United States and Israel since it could pose a considerable threat to Western strike aircraft in any potential future conflict with Iran.

Reports on the sale appeared as Russia delivered a second shipment of nuclear fuel for Iran's Bushehr reactor; the deal is seen as a sign of strengthening ties between Moscow and Tehran.

Iranian Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar announced on 26 December 2007 that "the S-300 air defence system will be delivered to Iran within the framework of a contract signed with Russia in the past", adding that "the timing of the delivery will be announced at a later date".

Russia's Interfax News Agency quoted a source within the Russian defence industry confirming Najjar's statement.

In 2005 Russia agreed to supply Iran with 29 Tor-M1 (SA-15 'Gauntlet') low- to medium-altitude surface-to-air missiles under a USD700 million contract. The missiles were delivered during 2006 and became operational in early 2007.

"While Tor-M1 missiles can hit targets at low altitude, S-300 missiles have an extraordinary performance against targets at high altitude," Najjar told Iranian state television.

Indeed, the S-300PMU2 Favorit missile can engage targets flying at altitudes from 5,000-27,000 m at speeds of up to 10,000 km/h and at a range of 200 km. It is designed to defend vital facilities against attacking aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

"This missile will undoubtedly cause trouble to any air force that tries to operate above Iran," General Eitan Ben-Eliyahu, former commander of the Israel Air Force (IAF), told Jane's .

"This missile, reportedly, has even better performance than the Patriot PAC-3 missile," added a senior IAF source.

The sale of advanced air-defence systems to Iran is perceived in Israel as another repercussion of the US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), released in December, which stated that Iran had ceased work on developing a nuclear weapon. "It appears that the NIE has lifted any Russian inhibition on transferring technology and materials to Iran," a senior diplomatic source told Jane's .

Israel is also concerned that S-300PMU2 missiles will be supplied to neighbouring Syria, which has been seeking to acquire the system in recent years.

However, the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Co-operation, the agency overseeing military exports, denied the statement made by the Iranian defence minister. "The issue of the delivery of S-300 air defence missile systems to Iran, raised by the media, is not a subject of current negotiations and has not been discussed with the Iranians," stated the agency on 28 December. "Russia and Iran continue their civilised relationship in the sphere of military and technical co-operation, respecting in full regulations of international export legislation and their international obligations," said the statement on the agency's website.

The following week, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini also declared that "no talks have been held on this issue", contradicting the statement made by his defence minister.


С уважением, ID