Russia Delivers New Anti-Aircraft Missile Systems to Iran

[Bronco_Beerslug]

And promising them more weapons.

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Russian missiles delivered to Iran: Ivanov
By Guy Faulconbridge 17 minutes ago

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday it had delivered new anti-aircraft missile systems to
Iran and would consider further requests by Tehran for defensive weapons.

Washington and Israel, who accuse Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear arms and undermining security in the region, have criticized the sale of TOR-M1 missiles. Tehran, they say, could use them against its neighbors.

"We have supplied the modern short-range anti-aircraft systems TOR-M1 in accordance with our contracts," Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told reporters when asked about the sale.

"We're developing our military and technical cooperation with Iran in accordance with international law and will continue to develop it," he said. "And if Iran wants to buy defensive, I underline defensive, equipment for its armed forces then why not?"

Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister and is seen as a potential successor to President
Vladimir Putin, did not say how many missile systems had been delivered or when the deliveries took place.

Russian arms sales and nuclear cooperation with Iran have strained relations with Washington, which suspects Tehran of using a nuclear power program as cover for development of atomic weapons.

Russia, building Iran's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr, says Tehran does not have the capability to make nuclear weapons. Iran says it has a right to develop its civilian nuclear sector and denies seeking nuclear arms.

A defense ministry source later told Reuters deliveries of hardware under the $1 billion TOR-M1 missile deal had not yet been completed.

NO SANCTIONS

Late last year Russia reluctantly joined U.N. sanctions against Iran, which introduced restrictions on Iran's trade in sensitive nuclear materials and technology, aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

But Moscow says the sanctions do not apply to the missile systems, which are designed to shoot down aircraft, missiles and other weapons at medium and low altitudes.

"Iran is not under any sanctions," Ivanov said. "The U.N resolution that was accepted and for which the Russian Federation voted, does not apply to contracts made by Iran."

The Russian military insists that the missile systems will protect Iran from air attacks, but do not pose a threat to neighboring countries.

Russia dropped the idea of selling longer-range S300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran last year, Russian news agencies have reported.

The U.S last year imposed sanctions on leading Russian arms firms over arms sales to Iran and
Syria. One of the firms, Rosoboronexport, Russia's biggest arms exporter, is headed by an old colleague from Putin's KGB's past, Sergei Chemezov.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Tor M1 9M330 Air Defense System
(Russia)

The TOR-M1 surface-to-air missile system is a mobile, integrated air defense system, designed for operation at medium-, low- and very low –altitudes, against fixed/rotary wing aircraft, UAVs, guided missiles and precision weapon. The system is capable of operating in an intensive aerial jamming environment. The system is comprised of a number of missile Transporter Launcher Vehicle (TLV). A Russian air defense Tor battalion consists of 3 - 5 companies, each equipped with four TLVs. Each TLV is equipped with 8 ready to launch missiles, associating radars, fire control systems and a battery command post. The combat vehicle can operate autonomously, firing from stationary positions or on the move. Set-up time is rated at 3 minutes and typical reaction time, from target detection to missile launch is 5-8 seconds. Reaction time could range from 3.4 seconds for stationary positions to 10 seconds while on the move. Each fire unit can engage and launch missiles against two separate targets. Tor M1 can detect and track up to 48 targets (minimum radar cross section of 0.1 square meter) at a maximum range of 25 km, and engage two of them simultaneously, at a speed of up to 700 m/sec, and at a distance of 1 to 12 km. The system's high lethality (aircraft kill probability of 0.92-0.95) is maintained at altitude of 10 – 6,000 m'. The vertically launched, single-stage solid rocket propelled missile is capable of maneuvering at loads up to 30gs. It is equipped with a 15kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead activated by a proximity fuse. The system is offered as fully integrated tracked combat vehicle, or as a modular combat unit (TOR-M1T) comprising a truck mounted mobile control module and launcher/antenna units, carried on a trailer. Other configuration include separated towed systems, as well as shelter-based systems, for the protection of fixed sites. The missile is also effective against precision guided weapons and cruise missiles. In tests the missile demonstrated kill probability of such targets ranging from 0.6 to 0.9. The first operator of the Tor system was the Russian Army Air-Defense, which operates 100 units of the SA-15 Gauntlet variant. The Russian navy also uses the naval version known as SA-N-9. China bought 50 systems and possibly 25 more, between 1997 and 2002. The Greek army fielded 21 Tor M-1 systems. Most recently (December 2005) Iran was reported to sign a deal worth US$ 1.0 billion covering the procurement of up to 29 TOR M-1 missile systems, modernization of air-force systems and the supply of patrol boats. The system was also proposed to several other countries. The TOR component of the deal was reported to be US$700 million. Deliveries of the TOR systems began in November 2006 and by the year's end, over half of the order has been fulfilled. Deliveries are expected to continue through 2008. (more from freerepublic)

[Bronco_Beerslug]

SPECIFICATIONS

Missile dimensions: Length 2.9m; Diameter 0.235m
Launch weight: 167kg
Propulsion: Single-stage, solid-fuel rocket
Operating altitude: 0.01~6km
Operating range: 0.1~12km
Max speed: 850m/s
Guidance: Radio command
Warhead: 15kg high explosive
Launch vehicle size: Length 7.5m; Height 5.1m; Width 3.3m
Combat weight: 34t
Engine: V12 diesel
Range: 500km
Max road speed: 65 km/h
Protection: NBC protection
Launcher reaction time: 5~8 sec
Reload time: 10 min
Fire on move: Yes

[Bronx33]

That's cute russia.

[alkemical]

I remember reading far back that china-russia inked arms deals & supported iran in endevors.

China and Russia are very much capitalizing on the markets available. Capitalism at it's finest.

[mhgaffney]

It has been suggested there were backroom discussions between the US and Russia/China on the matter of UN sec council sanctions.

I was initially surprised that Russia and China voted for the UN resolution. Probably Bush threatened war against Iran if they did not go along. Russia and China may have agreed to cast a "yes" vote in the hope of staving off a US attack on iran. They did, however, insist on a weakly worded resolution. Which is confirmed by this report.

It all may have been for nought. What good are the promises of this Bush adminitration? They are about as good as promises made by Hitler before WW II.

This much is clear, sad to say. Bush wants to provoke a war -- and it could come at almost any time.

[TheDave]

Great...

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Originally Posted by mhgaffney

This much is clear, sad to say. Bush wants to provoke a war -- and it could come at almost any time.

He's already "provoked" war and is fresh out of soldiers so no, I doubt it could come at any time.