Russia has delivered the first consignment of surface-to-air missiles for S-300 air defense complexes supplied to Iran earlier this year, reports Tasnim News Agency. The initial contract called for delivery of at least five S-300 air defense batteries.
Iran’s Air Defense Commander, Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, said earlier this month that all purchased S-300 systems will be fully functional by the end of the ongoing Iranian year, which ends on March 20, 2017. The first delivery of the Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile system arrived in Iran in early April, the country’s Foreign Ministry announced.
Iran put some vehicles that are part of the sophisticated missile system on display at a military parade marking the National Army Day on April 17. The ceremony in Tehran included two S-300 radar systems, a missile launcher, and command vehicles, as well as a crane for reloading the missile carrier vehicles, Tasnim reports.
The long-range S-300 air defense systems supplied to Iran by Russia have finally been deployed at Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base, the Tasnim news agency cited Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan as saying in mid-May.
The S-300PMU-2 Favorit model delivered to Iran is a more advanced version of the S-300 system than was promised in the original contract. Russia and Iran signed an $800 million contract to supply S-300 systems in 2007. The contract was put on hold in 2010 by then-President Dmitry Medvedev due to UN sanctions imposed on Iran.