An Iranian former defense minister said on Sunday that Iran’s own version of the S-300 defensive missile system is more precise than the Russian type, Press TV reported.
When the Russians initially refused to deliver the S-300, Iran started to build a prototype of the long-range air defense system, former Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said.
In September 2010, then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev cancelled the S-300 contract according to a resolution of the United Nations Security Council, which banned the supply of conventional weapons to Iran.
In April 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to lift the ban on sales of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems after Iran and six world powers, including Russia, reached a framework accord on parameters of Iran’s controversial nuclear program.
In March 2017, Farzad Esmaili, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base, said the Islamic republic was designing and manufacturing an indigenous version of the S-300 system called Bavar-373.
Bavar-373 would be more technologically advanced than S-300 and would be tested “in the near future,” he said.
Western countries have expressed their concerns over the missile developments of Iran. The United States has urged Iran to halt its ballistic missile development.
Tehran, however, has dismissed the Western concerns, saying its missile capabilities are non-negotiable as they serve the deterrence purpose.
Source » xinhuanet