S-300 is targeting Syria
Damascus might receive Russian air defense system soon.
As it became known “Kommersant”, Russia in the near future to start the supply of anti-aircraft missile complexes (ZRK) With-300 “Favorite” in Syria. Back in 2010, Damascus has contracted data to SAM, but at the implementation stage, the contract was cancelled at the request of Israel, fearing for its airspace. This time, according to “Kommersant”, the supply of “Favorites” is scheduled to be on a grant basis, to based on them to create a layered system of the Syrian air defense is able to cover Damascus and the location of the aircraft from attacks. Experts believe that the response of the Israeli military in this step will be predictably negative, and some do not exclude that they will cause a blow to the locations of the s-300.
Statement of readiness to deliver to Damascus the s-300 was first performed a few hours after the application of the United States, Britain and France, on 14 April, a massive missile and bomb attack on Syria. The first speaker was the chief of the main operations Directorate of the General staff of the armed forces of the Russian Federation Sergey rudskoy: “given the incident believe it is possible to revisit this issue — and not only in Syria but also in other States”. On 16 April, the Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in interview Bi-bi-si, this position was supported by: “in order to help the Syrian army to deter aggression, we are ready to consider all necessary steps.” And on April 20 he told “RIA Novosti”, after the last attack Syria, “we now have no moral obligations.” On the same day, Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the chief of the General staff Valery Gerasimov and defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the meeting, according to the official report, discussed “some aspects of the situation in Syria.” Any other details have not been reported.
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Two military-diplomatic sources “Kommersant” claim that was “predominantly political” the question of transferring the Syrian army SAM almost solved.
It is assumed that the s-300 components (radar, transport and loading vehicle, command and control, launchers, etc.) will soon be delivered to the Republic or aircraft of the military transport aircraft or ships of the Russian Navy.
In the Department of information and mass communications of the Ministry of defence to questions “b” on the topic of s-300 to Syria at the weekend could not answer.
S-300 could appear in Syria much earlier. In 2010, the Ministry of defense of the Republic and the Russian special exporter of arms “Rosoboronexport” has signed a contract to supply four battalions of the option of s-300PMU-2. The performance of the contract prevented first began in 2011, civil war in Syria — the customer was transferred to a radar station, but not the rest of the equipment (including launchers and missiles).
In addition to internal circumstances were external: the supply of s-300 Syria was constantly criticized Israel, who believed that, having such powerful weapons, the Syrian military will be able to control its airspace. In the end, at the request of tel Aviv, the contract was cancelled. “The Israelis have expressed fears over supplies of the same systems s-300 to another country in the region, because its territory is the s-300 can reach Israeli territory,” — said President Vladimir Putin during a straight line on 16 April 2015, stating that Russia shared this concern and returned to the customer about $400 million advance. Subsequently, the s-300PMU-2 was adapted to the requirements of other clients of Iran, who bought them for $1 billion.
This time the s-300 is planned to transfer Syria to provide military-technical assistance. At least, says the source “b” in military technology, for the purchase of new systems of this type are “the Syrians have no money”, and loan processing in the plans of Russia is not included (although, according to “RIA Novosti” recently, the Syrian armed forces still acquired on a commercial basis more than 40 pieces of anti-aircraft missile and gun complexes “Pantsir-S1”).
One way or another, but the most likely delivery in the Republic already used the armed forces complexes.
Together with the Soviet s-125, s-200, Buk, “Square” and “Wasp” they will form the basis of the Syrian air defense in depth, which will be able to cover against possible attacks from Israel and the US coalition not only Damascus, but also a number of military bases, hosting the Syrian air force and are Iranian military instructors. According to the reserve Colonel Victor Murakhovski, for such problems in Syria makes sense to throw at least three or four battalions of this type. Recall that the Russian anti-aircraft missile systems s-400 protect the airspace in Hamima and Masafi, and s-300V4 cover item logistics RF Navy in Tartous. According to Sergey Rudskoy, during the shelling in the night of April 14 no missile within range of Russian air defense systems was not included.
The reaction of Israeli officials on Russia’s plans to supply s-300 to Syria has not yet sounded. But former high-ranking officials, including the former head of the intelligence service of the army of defense of Israel Amos Yadlin, believe that the Israeli military will strike SAM strike. In tel Aviv react to the delivery of s-300 to Syria is very nervous, but now in Syria, “everyone catches their fish in troubled waters,” says the Director of the Center for analysis of strategies and technologies Ruslan Pukhov: “After the April strike, Russia had to respond somehow to the US and its allies, and, apparently, has been selected with the indicative support of Bashar al-Assad.”
Moscow proceeds from the fact that the deployment of s-300 to Syria will help stabilize the situation and will not allow the Israelis and the coalition headed by the USA easily destroy civilian and military infrastructure.
At least the head of the Federation Council Committee on defense Viktor Bondarev believes that “the availability of highly effective defensive weapons in the Arsenal of any sovereign country will sober up the hot heads not only of NATO’s military and generals.” At the same time, training Syrian officers control the s-300 will take a long time: the former of zamglavy Russian air force the United air defense system of the CIS ITech Bijev believes that it will take about three months. At the same time, according to “Kommersant”, in the places of their deployment, at first, will be the Russian military advisers, who will coordinate the actions of the Syrian experts. And if the same Israel decides to strike at the places of deployment of s-300 missile strikes, the consequences, the conviction to sources, “b”, “for all parties will be catastrophic”.
Ivan Safronov, Alexander Djordjevic