Iran negotiating with Belarus for strategic air defense system ...

GERTZ:

LONDON -- Western intelligence sources said Belarus has been negotiating the sale of a strategic air defense system to Iran.

The sources the two countries have been discussing Iranian procurement of surplus Soviet-origin S-300 air defense systems from Belarus. They said the proposed acquisition was regarded as an interim measure until Teheran procures the S-400 Triumf air and missile defense system from Russia.

"Iran needs a major air defense system now to protect against U.S. and Israeli threats," the intelligence source said. "Teheran has been searching for surplus S-300 systems for sale from former Soviet republics."

The London-based Jane's Defence Weekly reported that Belarus has offered two S-300PT systems retired from the air defense umbrella around Minsk. The S-300PT, known in NATO as the SA-10A Grumble, was said to have an interception range of about 75 kilometers.

The S-300PT is a towed system that contains the Fakel 5V55K interceptor, with a range of 47 kilometers, and the TVM guided missile, which can travel 75 kilometers. The system comes with the baseline 5V55R semi-active radar.

Jane's said Iran was in the "final stage of negotiations" with Belarus for the S-300PT. Western intelligence sources said Iran has sought to acquire delivery of the first low-to-high altitude system by late 2008.

Iran has also advanced in negotiations with Russia for the S-400.

The sources said Moscow has agreed, in principle, to the sale of the air and missile defense system despite U.S. opposition.

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.

We cannot 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.

These systems should be thought of as variants of the US Aegis radars and their accompanying missile systems, but Russia has succeeded in creating a land mobile system of sensors and missiles in a suite which THEY CLAIM can be used to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles, aircraft, stealth aircraft and small cruise missiles.