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Russia Offers Iran New Replacement for S-300 - Paper
© RIA Novosti. Dmitry Korobeinikov
09:24 22/06/2013
http://en.rian.ru/world/20130622/181809995/Russia-Offers-Iran-New-Replacement-for-S-300--Paper.html
The S-300P surface-to-air missile system
MOSCOW, June 22 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow made a new attempt to dodge a
$4-billion lawsuit from Tehran over a failed deal to supply S-300
missile systems by offering another type of air defense system to
Iran, Kommersant daily said Saturday.
The new offer on the table is Antei-2500, aka S-300VM, or SA-23
Gladiator in NATO nomenclature, the newspaper said, citing unnamed
sources in the Russian arms trade industry. The missile defense system
can simultaneously destroy up to 24 aircraft within the range a range
of 200 kilometers or intercept up to 16 ballistic missiles.
The deal can be formalized during the visit of outgoing Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Moscow on July 1, an unnamed Iranian
diplomat told Kommersant.
Iran was initially interested in the S-300 missile complexes, signing
in 2007 a contract worth $800 million for five missile defense systems
of this make.
But the deal was scrapped in 2010 by then-Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev, who was unilaterally expanding on sanctions against Iran
imposed by the UN Security Council.
Iran filed a $4-billion lawsuit against Russia in the international
arbitration court in Geneva, which is currently pending review.
Moscow has struggled to have the lawsuit dropped, including by
offering the Tor anti-aircraft systems as replacement, media reported
earlier this month, adding that the offer was rejected by Tehran.
The Antei-2500, however, may be a better solution. The system does not
formally fall under the existing sanctions against Iran while still
being useful for the Middle Eastern country, which wants to have
protection against a possible missile strike by its enemy Israel,
Kommersant said.
While the S-300 was developed for the use by missile defense forces,
the Antei-2500 was specifically tailored for the needs of ground
forces, which could also be an advantage for Iran, known for its large
land force.
Russia is already exporting the Antei-2500, having delivered two
missile systems to Venezuela earlier this year. India and Turkey were
also named as potential buyers, though no deals were formalized so
far.
© RIA Novosti. Dmitry Korobeinikov
09:24 22/06/2013
http://en.rian.ru/world/20130622/181809995/Russia-Offers-Iran-New-Replacement-for-S-300--Paper.html
The S-300P surface-to-air missile system
MOSCOW, June 22 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow made a new attempt to dodge a
$4-billion lawsuit from Tehran over a failed deal to supply S-300
missile systems by offering another type of air defense system to
Iran, Kommersant daily said Saturday.
The new offer on the table is Antei-2500, aka S-300VM, or SA-23
Gladiator in NATO nomenclature, the newspaper said, citing unnamed
sources in the Russian arms trade industry. The missile defense system
can simultaneously destroy up to 24 aircraft within the range a range
of 200 kilometers or intercept up to 16 ballistic missiles.
The deal can be formalized during the visit of outgoing Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Moscow on July 1, an unnamed Iranian
diplomat told Kommersant.
Iran was initially interested in the S-300 missile complexes, signing
in 2007 a contract worth $800 million for five missile defense systems
of this make.
But the deal was scrapped in 2010 by then-Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev, who was unilaterally expanding on sanctions against Iran
imposed by the UN Security Council.
Iran filed a $4-billion lawsuit against Russia in the international
arbitration court in Geneva, which is currently pending review.
Moscow has struggled to have the lawsuit dropped, including by
offering the Tor anti-aircraft systems as replacement, media reported
earlier this month, adding that the offer was rejected by Tehran.
The Antei-2500, however, may be a better solution. The system does not
formally fall under the existing sanctions against Iran while still
being useful for the Middle Eastern country, which wants to have
protection against a possible missile strike by its enemy Israel,
Kommersant said.
While the S-300 was developed for the use by missile defense forces,
the Antei-2500 was specifically tailored for the needs of ground
forces, which could also be an advantage for Iran, known for its large
land force.
Russia is already exporting the Antei-2500, having delivered two
missile systems to Venezuela earlier this year. India and Turkey were
also named as potential buyers, though no deals were formalized so
far.