Russian expert advises U.S., its allies against attacking Iran after it gets S-300 systems
MOSCOW. April 22 (Interfax-AVN) - S-300 air defense missile systems that Russia may ship to Iran will be a secure deterrent for the United States and other potential aggressors because they are capable of inflicting serious damage to air offensive means, ex-chief of the Russian Defense Ministry's international military cooperation department Col. Gen. Leonid Ivashov said.
"The issue of damage may play a deterring role. Yes, of course, this complex cannot bring down every aircraft, moreover, coming from different directions. This system has limited range and damage radius. But damage that this complex is capable of may become a factor that will allow decisions to be made and not air strikes," Ivashov told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday commenting on U.S. President Barack Obama statement that the delivery of S-300 to Iran will not be an obstacle for U.S. military if an operation against Iran is launched.
"Naturally several complexes cannot stop a massive strike. But the issue here is the following: is the damage that S-300 will inflict acceptable for the U.S.? And Iranians have other air defense means," he said.
Russia's S-300 systems have no counterparts in the world and multiple exercise close to combat conditions proved their combat efficiency, he said.
"S-300 is constantly used in exercises that are close to a real combat situations. The jamming resistance of the system itself and the missile, the efficiency of hitting targets that are maneuvering and are using electronic defenses. This complex is considered the most efficient in the world," Ivashov said.