Remember that TOR-M1, S300 missile defense Russia sold Syria-Iran?

Remember how at the time the Russkies said while the S-300 was a good missile defense, not to worry because their REAL defense was the S-400 which was good against US planes, ballistic missiles and low flying cruise missiles, and would be sold to no one?

Well it's the FIRST LAW OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY again, sports fans.

Background on the S-300 and S-400 is HERE

GERTZ:

DIA: Iran set to buy Russian missile defense system

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. intelligence community has reported Iran's intention to purchase a Russian-origin S-400 air and missile defense system.

Officials said the S-400 Triumph, also known as the SA-20, would enable Teheran to intercept U.S. ballistic missiles as well as fighter-jets.

"Iran is close to acquiring long-range SA-20 SAMs, and is developing a new Ashoura medium-range ballistic missile," Defense Intelligence Agency director Michael Maples said.

In testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Feb. 5, Maples said Iran was preparing to enhance its air and missile defense capability. He said Teheran was purchasing the latest systems deployed by the Russian military.

The S-400 Triumph was developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau and stemmed from the S-300PMU air defense system. Industry sources said the S-400 could detect and destroy airborne targets at a distance of up to 400 kilometers, or 2.5 times greater than the S-300PMU.

Maples did not forecast when Iran would purchase the S-400, which Russia said was superior to the U.S.-origin PAC-3 missile defense system. Triumph includes radars said to be capable of detecting low-signature targets. (In other words, they are claiming it can see F-117 and B-2 as well at the new F-22 and F-35 stealth aircraft)

Industry sources said Russia's Fakel Machine Building Design Bureau has developed two missiles for Triumph. One so-called "big missile" was said to have a range of up to 400 kilometers and could destroy airborne early-warning and control aircraft as well as jammers.

The so-called "small missile" was identified as 9M96, designed to destroy aircraft and air-delivered weapons at ranges of more than 120 kilometers. The sources said this missile, equipped with an active homing head, could intercept non-strategic ballistic missiles.

Officials said Iran also acquired missiles, naval platforms and cruise missiles as well as upgrades from such suppliers as China, North Korea and Russia. They said these countries have supplied technology to enable Iran to achieve independent production.

"Iran is acquiring advanced weapons systems and supporting terrorist proxies," Maples said. "New capabilities include missile patrol boats, anti-ship cruise missiles, surface-to-air missile systems and an extended range variant of the Shihab-3 ballistic missile."

The Ashoura was described as an enhanced Shihab-3 variant with a range of 2,000 kilometers. Unlike the Shihab, the Ashoura was said to be a two-stage solid-fuel missile, designed for rapid launch and resistant to missile defense.

There is little or nothing to lose from publicly acknowledging and stating for the record that Russia is not just talking inimically about america, but us taking actions which will get americans killed if we act in favor of ourselves or our allies. In other words, while they themselves are not our enemies, they are helping those who self identify as our enemies.

WHY?