Jane’s Defence Weekly Exclusive: Iran to acquire advanced air defence system via Syria

Iran is set to acquire at least 10 96K6 Pantsyr-S1E self-propelled short-range gun and missile air defence systems, resulting from a major deal struck between Syria and Russia earlier this year.

A source close to the deal told Jane’s Defence Weekly that Moscow has agreed to sell Damascus “some 50 Pantsyr-S1E systems,” with initial deliveries set to begin later this year.

While most of the Pantsyr’s are earmarked for the Syrian Air Defence Command, “the end user for 10 of the systems is Iran,” said the source, adding that these should reach Tehran via Syria, in late 2008.

The contract signed by Syria and Russia is valued at USD730 million and according to the source, Iran will part finance the Syrian acquisition along with payment for its own 10 systems, to recompense Damascus for its compliance in the deal.

While Tehran has indicated the urgency of the requirement to Damascus, the source says the 10 systems to be transferred to Iran will not be taken from the first systems delivered to Syria, but rather from later deliveries.

The source said that both sides have agreed that when the first shipments of Pantsyr-S1E systems are delivered to Syria, specialists and senior officers from the Iranian Air Force’s Air Defence Command will travel to Syria to familiarise themselves with the system.

“It has also been agreed that some of the Iranian Air Force specialists will participate in instruction and training given to the Syrians on the Pantsyr system – including participation in future tests,” added the source.

Moscow was subject to particular diplomatic pressure for earlier agreeing to supply Iran with the TOR-M1 air defence system. Both Tehran and Damascus are anxious not to subject Moscow to further criticism from the west and as such the Russian government has, officially, not been made aware of the Syrian arrangement with Iran.

UN member states, if knowingly party to such an arrangement, could be in violation of the spirit of UN Security Council Resolution 1747, passed on 27 March this year. However, the source told Jane’s Defence Weekly that the relatively small and indirect Iranian element of Syria’s significant procurement deal avoids the potential for Moscow to fall foul of UN action under Security Council Resolution 1747.

Resolution 1747 imposes a ban on Iranian arms exports and calls upon member states to refrain from selling specific military materiel to Tehran.

Faced with the possibility of an air strike against its nuclear infrastructure assets, Iran has accelerated its procurement of various advanced air defence systems in the past few years.

This procurement has been most notably from Russia and has included various types of advanced air defence systems, including the S-300PMU-1/2 systems; 29 Tor M1 systems and the S-125M1 Pechora-2A (SA-3 ‘ Goa’) low-to-medium altitude air defence system and deployed these systems at its most sensitive infrastructure assets. (ENDS)

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This is the full and exclusive story as it appeared in Jane’s Defence Weekly on 23 May, 2007.

This is an extract only. For a copy of the full feature article as it appeared in Jane’s Defence Weekly please contact the Jane’s Press Office.

Iran set to obtain Pantsyr via Syria

By Robin Hughes, Deputy Editor

Iran is set to acquire at least 10 96K6 Pantsyr-S1E self-propelled short-range gun and missile air-defence systems as a derivative of a major deal struck between Syria and Russia earlier this year.

A source close to the deal told Jane's that Russia has agreed to sell Damascus "some 50 Pantsyr-S1E systems", with initial deliveries set to begin later in 2007. Syria is understood to be receiving the Pantsyr-S1E equipped with the latest Roman I-Band fire control radar.

While the source noted that most of the Pantsyrs are earmarked for the Syrian Air Defence Command, "the end user for 10 of the systems is Tehran". These should reach Iran, via Syria, in late 2008, the source told Jane's.

According to the source, Iran will part finance the Syrian acquisition along with payment for its own 10 systems to recompense Damascus for its compliance in the deal.

Syria is understood to have signed a contract with Russia, with an estimated value of USD730 million, for the supply of the Pantsyr-S1E. While Tehran has indicated to Damascus the urgency of the requirement, the source said that the 10 systems to be transferred will not be taken from the first ones supplied to Syria but from later deliveries. The source added Iran has also disclosed plans to acquire at least 50 Pantsyr-S1E systems and is currently now exploring potential options to realise this. He additionally confirmed that Iran has now acquired at least two longer-range S-300PMU-1/2 Favorit (SA-10c/d 'Grumble') air-defence systems.

Syrian consent to enable Iran to procure the Pantsyr-S1E systems through Syria is an implementation of the military and technological co-operation mechanism stipulated in a strategic accord signed by both countries in November 2005.

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(ENDS)