Iran Says It Successfully Tested Russian S-300 Missile System
MEP: Tehran announces it has successfully tested advanced Russian-made system, delivered last year, to destroy airborne targets, state television reported on Saturday.
Iran had been trying to acquire the system for years to ward off repeated threats by Israel to bomb its nuclear facilities, but Russia had held off delivery in line with UN sanctions imposed over the nuclear program.
The S-300 test-firing was conducted in the presence of several military and government officials at a shooting range in one of the country’s defense units, whose location was not publicized.
The television said that the test at a desert base had seen several targets, including a ballistic missile and a drone, intercepted.
Meanwhile, Tasnim news agency reported that the system was also used in simulated electronic warfare conditions to detect, track, intercept and detonate aerial targets with actual launch of missiles.
Russia committed to delivering the S-300 systems to Tehran under an 800-million-dollar deal in 2007 but stopped the process in 2010, citing the fourth round of the UN Security Council sanctions, which barred hi-tech weapons sales to the Islamic Republic.
It was revived after the nuclear deal between Iran and major powers went into effect in January last year.
The Russian-made missile defense system is one of the most advanced of its kind in the world, offering long-range protection against both aircraft and missiles.
