Update [2007-1-17 10:21:14 by Steven D]: Please also read Oui’s recommended diary on this topic for more information and discussion.
This has been strongly suspected for a very long time, but yesterday Russia confirmed it has delivered air defense missile systems to Iran:
Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Tuesday that Moscow had sent air defense missiles to Iran, the first high-level confirmation that their delivery took place despite U.S. objections.
Ivanov did not specify how many missile systems had been delivered, but a ministry official speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject said not all the systems contracted for had been delivered.
“We have delivered short-range Tor-M1 missiles to Iran in accordance with the contract,” Ivanov told reporters.
Ivanov’s comments were the first official confirmation of the sale; previous reports had cited unidentified officials reporting the sale.
Ministry officials have previously said Moscow would supply 29 of the sophisticated missile systems to Iran under a $700 million contract signed in December 2005, Russian media reported.
“If the Iranian leadership has a desire to purchase more defensive weapons, we would do that,” Ivanov said, without elaborating.
I guess Putin looked into Bush’s soul too, and didn’t like what he saw there. Rusia is announcing this sale and delivery of missiles now to fire a warning shot across Bush and Cheney’s Neocon bow. It tells them (and us) very clearly with whom Russia will align itself in the event of hostilities. Russia has a large investment in Iran, and will not sit idly by while Bush destroys it. I doubt Bush is going to alter his plans, but this is a unambiguous sign that Russia will do whatever it can to oppose a US (or US sponsored) attack on Iran.
For more information about the Tor missile systems which Russia has given Iran follow me below the fold:
From the website Defense Update:
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 [ed. note: UAV stands for Unmanned aerial vehicles, which includes drones and cruise missiles. It may have been the system employed to shoot down an American spy drone over Iranian terrirory yesterday, assuming this story from Xinhua is true.], 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.
My guess is that these systems will be deployed at the nuclear facility in Natanz, and anyplace else the Iranians suspect may be targeted by American planners. Since the systems are mobile, they are unlikely to stay in anyone place too long, so as to confuse American spy satellites and other means of military reconnisance. How effective these missile systems will be in thwarting American offensive capabilities is unknown. Some media sources claim it will be effective against not only cruise missiles and guided bombs, but also against stealth aircraft. Here’s an interesting article from RIA Novrosti about this weapon system’s designer:
His top-secret agency was first called R&D Institute No. 20 (NII-20), subsequently renamed the Electrical Mechanical R&D Institute (NIEMI) and then known as NPO Antei since 1983. Over the decades, Yefremov developed several types of mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems for the Army’s air-defense units.
The list of such weapons includes the world-famous Osa-AKM SAM system with an effective horizontal range between 1,500 meters and 10 km. This system, which can hit targets at an altitude of 6 km, was supplied to 25 countries.
Yefremov also developed the self-contained army-level Tor-M1 SAM system with a horizontal range of 1-12 km and a vertical range from 100 meters to six km. Apart from Russia, the Tor-M1 system is used by China and Greece.
More about the TOR from Enemy Forces:
Tor-M1, has no counterparts in other countries. According to Russian experts, this system can best meet the requirements of Gulf states. Above all, the Tor-M1 is intended to combat high-precision attack weapons which, should hostilities begin in the region, will most likely be used to destroy oil industry facilities. Tor is indispensable against cruise missiles, guided aerial bombs and low-flying terrain-following fire support helicopters. […]
The Tor-M1 AD missile system stands out, owing to the ease of operation, an opportunity to create on its basis local automated defense systems, high efficiency in defeating cruise missiles, guided air bombs, gunship helicopters and aircraft of various modifications that can fly on extremely low altitudes and are hard to detect.
The industrial company, ANTEY Concern and state-run enterprise, Izhevsk Electro-
mechanical Plant, offer a family of the Tor-M1 AD missile systems to execute various tactical air defense tasks, including the most important one to effectively defeat high-precision weapons, front-line aviation aircraft and protect the environmentally dangerous facilities from air attacks.The Tor-M1 world-wide known AD missile system protects troops on the march and on the battlefield. It is highly effective while fighting front-line aviation aircraft, including low vulnerable, highly maneuverable aircraft that can fly on extremely low altitudes.
Iraq had nothing like this in its arsenal when it was attacked by the US in 2003. I’d rather not find out how effective it is against our forces, but it looks right now that Bush is determined to give the Russians a live action field test of TOR’s capabilities.
