Tehran is conducting fire tests of its own air defense missiles, which correspond in their characteristics to the Russian S-300. The weapon was created in connection with the cancellation of a contract for the supply of S-300s to the Islamic Republic, Iranian state television channel Press TV reported on Wednesday, citing the deputy commander of the air defense base, Brigadier General Mohammad Hassan Mansourian.
The contract for the supply of S-300 air defense systems to Iran was signed at the end of 2007: Russia was supposed to supply Iran with five divisions of the S-300PMU-1 anti-aircraft missile system worth about $ 800 million. On September 22, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on measures to implement the fourth sanctions resolution of the UN Security Council against Iran (1929 of June 9, 2010). The decree provides for a ban on the transfer of S-300 complexes, armored vehicles, combat aircraft, helicopters and ships to Iran.
"Air defense systems similar to the S-300 are undergoing fire tests and finalization in the field. Other (missile) long-range systems are under development and production," Mansuryan said.
Today, the Russian S-300 medium-range anti-aircraft missile system is considered one of the most effective means of defense of various types of objects, military bases and control points from attacks of all types of missiles, including ballistic ones, and other means of aerospace attack. According to experts, in terms of basic combat characteristics, it surpasses functionally similar American Patriot air defense systems, which, in addition to the territory of the United States itself, are deployed in several countries of the world, including Israel.
The latest modifications of the S-300 systems are capable of destroying enemy aircraft at a distance of 150 kilometers and an altitude of up to 27 kilometers. Earlier, Russia supplied Iran with Tor-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems with a firing range of 12 kilometers (six in height).
