http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318452,00.html
TEHRAN, Iran — Russia is selling Iran a new and sophisticated air defense system that experts say is capable of dealing a serious blow against would-be attackers.

The new S-300 air defense system signals growing miitary cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said Wednesday.

"The S-300 air defense system will be delivered to Iran on the basis of a contract signed with Russia in the past," state television quoted Najjar as saying.

Najjar didn't say when or how many of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile defense systems would be shipped to Iran.

Earlier this year, Russia delivered 29 Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran under a $700 million contract signed in December 2005.

Russian officials wouldn't comment on the Iranian statement, but the Interfax news agency quoted an unidentified source in the Russian military-industrial complex as saying that a contract for the missiles delivery had been signed several years ago and envisaged the delivery of several dozen S-300 missile systems.

The S-300 is much more powerful and versatile weapon than the Tor-M1 missile systems supplied earlier, which were capable of hitting airborne targets flying at up to 20,000 feet.

The S-300 is capable of shooting down aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missile warheads at ranges of up to 95 miles and at altitudes of up to 90,000 feet. Russian military officials boast that it excels the U.S.-built Patriot missiles currently being deployed in Israel.

Rumors about the sale of S-300 missile systems to Iran have circulated for a long time, but Russian officials consistently denied it.

I just like to know why Russia continue arming mullahs with high tech missile systems?
Why U.S. has to stop his missile defense shield program while Russia continue arming terrorists?!
I think these kined of treats from Russia just make mullahs more aggressive and create more serious problems in future.

Explain the new system to a Tomahawk Missle.

Wow! WTF? This creates a whole new can of worms to deal with!

This aint looking good!

Not good for anyone in the long and the short of the situation. But is this Russia's response to us putting in the missle defense system in Eastern Europe? Maybe to give them some leverage of negotiation to keep our system out?

Patti

This isnt new news. The contract for this system was signed back in 2003 after the US invasion of Iraq. The ONLY reason it has taken so long for the much anticipated deliveries to start is because Iran hasnt been able to pay for this system.
Keep in mind that Russia is only selling defensive weapons to Iran. The S300 and TorM1 are only designed to defend airspace, not to attack ground targets or targets outside the country. With the rhetoric that was coming from Bush administration and the frivilous invasion of Iraq, Iran thought for the longest time that they would surely be next in the imperialistic desires of the current US admin.

This would only upset the US and Israel as it would make any attack on Iran much more difficult and hazardous which is exactly why Iran wants it. A deterrent to aggressive acts.
Again, these arent war making weapons, they are defensive and therefore war preventing weapons.
Iran has little offensive capability. As long as it stays that way, what are you worried about?

quote:

Originally posted by Mehrdad_Tehran:
I just like to know why Russia continue arming mullahs with high tech missile systems?
Why U.S. has to stop his missile defense shield program while Russia continue arming terrorists?!
I think these kined of treats from Russia just make mullahs more aggressive and create more serious problems in future.

Russia has learned one thing from the UNited States-- there's big business to be had from other people's wars.

Russia is getting a lot from Iran in return-- money, long-term investment, and a proud stance of "look everyone, look at us stand up against the Yankee dogs! We're tough guys!"

quote:

Originally posted by FriscoLady01:
Not good for anyone in the long and the short of the situation. But is this Russia's response to us putting in the missle defense system in Eastern Europe? Maybe to give them some leverage of negotiation to keep our system out?

Patti

Not quite-- these are anti-aircraft missiles for shooting down invading planes.

ie-- US planes that might be making a run on the Iranian reactors. The Russian built Iranian reactors.

All coming into perspective now, eh?

Yeah. Defensive like the anti-missile system we want to put in Eastern Europe that your buddy the man o' the year is so on about. Defensive weapons can give one the feeling that they can use their offensive capabilities with impunity. Of course how could 19 men w/ box-cutters be an offensive weapon. OF course that was A.Q. and not Iran. Of course if that weren't a page in the Quds playbook it is now...

quote:

Originally posted by FlankerFlyer:
This isnt new news. The contract for this system was signed back in 2003 after the US invasion of Iraq. The ONLY reason it has taken so long for the much anticipated deliveries to start is because Iran hasnt been able to pay for this system.
Keep in mind that Russia is only selling defensive weapons to Iran. The S300 and TorM1 are only designed to defend airspace, not to attack ground targets or targets outside the country. With the rhetoric that was coming from Bush administration and the frivilous invasion of Iraq, Iran thought for the longest time that they would surely be next in the imperialistic desires of the current US admin.

This would only upset the US and Israel as it would make any attack on Iran much more difficult and hazardous which is exactly why Iran wants it. A deterrent to aggressive acts.
Again, these arent war making weapons, they are defensive and therefore war preventing weapons.
Iran has little offensive capability. As long as it stays that way, what are you worried about?

True; the 1973 Yom Kippur War: Egypt and Syria had th elatest & greatest in Soviet supplied air-defense missiles to counter the Israeli Air Force which had proven so decisive in 1967.

Once they felt all toughed-up by their "invincible air defense shield" they felt squirrely enough to launch their attacks and smack IAF planes out of the sky that came to counter-attack.

Iran feeling invincible is not good for the long-term effects of the region.

the difference between the ABM "interceptors" that Bush wants in Poland is that they can esily be converted into IRBMs within days of the order being given. the S300 and TorM1 can only be used against aggresive targets within Iran's territorial range. Its not like they can be lauched against aircraft flying in Iraq, for example(well, unless they are flying right along the border and there happens to be a misile battery right on the border as well.)

If the range is 95 miles, wouldn't that be 95 miles from anywhere? i.e. if it's on the border, 95 miles into the other country, or if it's on the coast, 95 miles out to sea?

quote:

Originally posted by CanisLatrans:

quote:

Originally posted by FriscoLady01:
Not good for anyone in the long and the short of the situation. But is this Russia's response to us putting in the missle defense system in Eastern Europe? Maybe to give them some leverage of negotiation to keep our system out?

Patti

Not quite-- these are anti-aircraft missiles for shooting down invading planes.

ie-- US planes that might be making a run on the Iranian reactors. The Russian built Iranian reactors.

All coming into perspective now, eh?

Yes now it is in perspective.

We've done quite a bit to tick off Ivan, bombed Serbia, armed and trained countries bordering Russia, etc, etc. We've no reason to be suprised by this!

quote:

Originally posted by Acog3x30:
We've done quite a bit to tick off Ivan, bombed Serbia, armed and trained countries bordering Russia, etc, etc. We've no reason to be suprised by this!

I have to agree with you.

Yeah, but Ivan can get the hell over it.. Alot of the things we've done to tick him off lately have been in the process (at the U.N.'s request) of trying to clean up the mess when the Soviet Empire collapsed and exposed the results of 50 years covering up socialism's abject failure. Let alone billions in loan, aid, and in kind intellectual mentoring that we've blown on 'em. Course they didn't see the benefits of this cause of corrupt RUSSIAN politicians, but as far as I know, we didn't teach them to be corrupt, they had that much figured out on their own.

The Tomahawk firing subs, the modified FBM "boomers", can carry 125 vertical launched missiles. How many subs would it take to overwhelm the air defense systems?

quote:

Originally posted by 16528112:
Yeah, but Ivan can get the hell over it.. Alot of the things we've done to tick him off lately have been in the process (at the U.N.'s request) of trying to clean up the mess when the Soviet Empire collapsed and exposed the results of 50 years covering up socialism's abject failure. Let alone billions in loan, aid, and in kind intellectual mentoring that we've blown on 'em. Course they didn't see the benefits of this cause of corrupt RUSSIAN politicians, but as far as I know, we didn't teach them to be corrupt, they had that much figured out on their own.

Amazing, I guess I see things differently because I am foreign born, and have relatives in Germany that are saying the same thing about Uncle Sam about some situations between both nations..

I get both sides of some situations. Not agreeing with you or against you just noting something that I have seen from both sides and regard with some indifference in some situations and get hotly agitated in support of the states on some or my birth nation in others. Especially, when I see your comments and here my relatives on others.

I guess I find some humor in both sides.

This in not a serious threat, just a minor annoyance, and an annoyance that can be rendered neutral if the need arises.

As long as you can see the humor you should stay eternally well amused, 'cause you know this crap ain't never gonna end.. Nicht wahr?

quote:

Originally posted by FriscoLady01:

quote:

Originally posted by 16528112:
Yeah, but Ivan can get the hell over it.. Alot of the things we've done to tick him off lately have been in the process (at the U.N.'s request) of trying to clean up the mess when the Soviet Empire collapsed and exposed the results of 50 years covering up socialism's abject failure. Let alone billions in loan, aid, and in kind intellectual mentoring that we've blown on 'em. Course they didn't see the benefits of this cause of corrupt RUSSIAN politicians, but as far as I know, we didn't teach them to be corrupt, they had that much figured out on their own.

Amazing, I guess I see things differently because I am foreign born, and have relatives in Germany that are saying the same thing about Uncle Sam about some situations between both nations..

I get both sides of some situations. Not agreeing with you or against you just noting something that I have seen from both sides and regard with some indifference in some situations and get hotly agitated in support of the states on some or my birth nation in others. Especially, when I see your comments and here my relatives on others.

I guess I find some humor in both sides.