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According to this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-300

“Iran’s status regarding the S-300 system remains controversial. They seem to have acquired an unknown number of S-300PMU-1 missiles in 1993, maybe even recently from Belarus.[17] Iran signed a contract with Russia on 25 December 2007 on the sales of the S-300PMU-1 missile system. The date of S-300 delivery is yet to be revealed.”

and

“Syria announced an intention to buy the S-300P in 1991 and now seems to possess the system”

We all know the efficacy of the Syrian air defense.

The Syrian air defense system was totally useless against the Israeli attack. That is a simple fact, and the reasons for it are easily accessible on the web (there is even a thread on Fr that goes into how the Israelis defeated it). However, they did not use the S-300 system ....the 'new' Russian system that the Syrians had, on top of their legacy systems, was the Tor missile. And what is the Tor missile ....simply put, a short-range, low level, SAM system. That is quite different from the S-300 system, in more ways than one.

However, Iran having the S-300 system also doesn't mean that they are now miraculously immune to attack. For one it would depend on how many systems they acquire (having a couple installations doesn't translate into a comprehensive integrated air defense network, and you can bet cash money that the Iranians have not bought enough to make up a S-300 IADs), their level of training (once again, it is doubtful whether there has been sufficient training), and such matters. And that is just looking at the Iranian side of the situation (the Israeli side obviously includes such matters like the Israelis not being utter fools, and thus having some sort of measures to use against the S-300). Thus Iran getting the S-300 doesn't offer them an aegis of protection.

With that said, the S-300 is not the Tor. The S-300 was not used by Syria. And the S-300 can give a lot of headaches if integrated into a comprehensive IADS (this is THE reason that the F-22 Raptor was practicing releasing JDAMs from high altitude at supersonic speed ...with its stealth and sheer kinematic performance the Raptor can eat S-300 sites for breakfast. The problem is that the same cannot be said for legacy fighters).

Anyways, I would be worried if Iran bought enough to truly augment their defense system. If they did, then the Israelis would probably be pushing for Raptor sales with even greater tenacity.

Wiki is not an accurate source of info. The S-300/Iran debacle has been running for years now. The S-300 doesn’t appear on any Coalition threat list for Iran. The reason Iran doesn’t have them. Iran doesn’t even operate any S-300 associated radar system, even for early warning. These are strategic SAM systems they need to train with and radiate their associated radars. The minute an associated radar pops up then it is game over for the Russians as the finger will point at them for supplying Iran with such systems.

The Russians have officially stated on the recent announcement that they are not supplying Iran with S-300s. The Russians have too much to lose over not officially announcing such a sale. If they did it underhand then the US will embarass them the minute Iran deploys regiments of S-300s.

Export of SAM systems on the UN Arms Register don’t have to be declared, but Russia does announce them and officially announce the contract. For example the supply of S-300s to Vietnam and Belarus.

If the Russians ever supplied S-300s to Syria or Iran the contract would be officially announced as per the SA-15s (GAUNTLET) (Iran) and the SA-24s (GRINCH) (Syria). Even Belarus abides by the arms register and the Russians wouldn’t support any deliveries going from via that route to Iran. The Russians have far too much to lose the minute such advance SAM systems appear in Iran.