The issue of S-300 missiles

The S-300 missile is also capable of destroying ballistic missile targets and is regarded as one of the most potent anti-aircraft missile systems currently deployed in the world. Its special radars have the ability to simultaneously track up to 100 targets while engaging up to 12. It takes only five minutes to deploy. S-300 missiles are sealed rounds and require no maintenance during their lifetime. An evolved version of the S-300 system is the S-400 (NATO reporting name SA-21), which entered into service in Russia in 2004. Although no S-300 missile has ever been launched in an actual conflict, it is considered a very capable surface-to-air-missile (SAM) system by experts.

In April 2005, NATO carried out a combat exercise in France called "Trial Hammer" to test the S-300 system out in a suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) procedure. The participating countries were pleased that the Slovak air force brought along an S-300PMU, a 1992 version of the S-300, providing a unique opportunity for NATO to become familiar with the system. Although we do not know the test results, it is safe to assume from the current literature on S-300 systems that they are efficient and lethal enough to cause serious alarm in both the US and Israeli defense establishments.

Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported 10 days ago that "Moscow has met its obligations to supply Tor-M1 systems to Iran and is currently implementing a contract to deliver S-300 systems." The news agency also quoted Alexander Fomin, the deputy head of the federal agency in charge of Russia's military exports, as saying, "Russia's military and technological cooperation with Iran has a positive impact on stability in the region." Fomin added: "We have developed, are developing and will continue this cooperation further. The region's security to a large extent depends on this."

Most probably due to this news report, Israel became alarmed and sent Amos Gilad, a senior envoy from the Defense Ministry, to Moscow last week to try to dissuade Russia from supplying Iran with the S-300 missiles. During his two-day visit, Gilad met with the Russian chief of staff and the head of intelligence, as well as senior defense officials and diplomats. However, at this stage we do not know the results of his visit. The only thing we know is that a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman declared that "Russia will not go ahead with the Iranian deal," as he put it.

Following this, the official news agency of Iran, IRNA, quoted Esmail Kosari, the deputy head of the Iranian Parliament's Foreign Affairs and National Security Committee, as saying: "After a few years of talks with Russia, now the S-300 system is being delivered. The delivery of this system is a display of the good relations between Iran and Russia, which cannot be harmed by Israel." Kosari also said the addition of the S-300 system would be used to defend Iran's borders.

On top of that, there are other reports, some of which suggest the S-300 deal is on, while others suggest that it is not. For this reason the US is seeking some clarification and answers from Russia. Whether or not Russia will respond to the US remains to be seen.

All in all, one thing is certain: Russia is using the issue of S-300 missiles as efficient leverage against both the US and Israel, probably to settle some scores.