Iran tests a new missile defence, soon to be operational

AFP

AFP

Sunday, 3 September 2017 02:33

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Sunday, 3 September 2017 02:33

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Iran has tested its new missile Bavar 373, which is comparable to the S-300 Russian, which will be delivered to the armed forces by march 2018, announced the commander of the air defence quoted by the website of State television.

“The whole system has been completed and the tests carried out”, said general Farzad Esmaili. “This system is totally manufactured in Iran and some parts are different from the S-300,” he added, specifying that the Iranians wanted to use it “in parallel with the S-300 Russian.

Iran had decided to launch the project for the construction of Bavar 373 when Russia had suspended in 2010 a contract entered into three years earlier, in order to provide the system S-300.

This suspension of the contract was as a result of the sanctions imposed by the Western powers and the UN to push Tehran, accused of trying to develop atomic weapons, to cease its nuclear activities sensitive.

The conclusion in July 2015 for a historic agreement between Iran and the major powers has led to the gradual lifting of these sanctions after Tehran was committed to ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program.

In this context, Moscow has again authorized the delivery of the components of the system S-300.

Since then, Iran has deployed this system on the territory, in particular to protect its nuclear sites.

Iran had shown for the first time in August 2016 the system of defence anti-air Bavar 373, showing its determination to develop its military capabilities despite the concerns of the West.

The United States and the european countries (France, Uk and Germany) requires Iran not to develop its missile program.

Saturday, the new minister of Defence, general Amir Hatami said that Iran had “a specific plan to develop the capacity of missiles” in the country.

“God willing, the fighting capabilities of ballistic and cruise missiles of Iran will increase” in the near future, he said. These declarations come in a context of growing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

As a result of recent u.s. sanctions against Iran, the iranian Parliament voted in mid-August, a significant increase in funding for the ballistic program of the islamic Republic.