Syria mulls S-300PMU2 system

[Ren987]

MOSCOW [MENL] -- Syria has been discussing the procurement of the advanced S-300 air and missile defense system from Russia.

Industry sources said Syrian President Bashar Assad was briefed on the S-300PMU2 during his visit to Moscow. They said Bashar has agreed in principle to procuring the S-300 and focused on price and other details with his Russian interlocutors.

"Syria wants a strategic air defense system that would present a major threat to Israeli warplanes," a source said. "I think Assad will buy and deploy the S-300 over the next few months."

The S-300PMU2, known as Favorit and produced by Almaz, has been priced at more than $600 million per unit. The sources said Russia has agreed to reduce the price of the long-range air defense systems in exchange for Russian Navy basing rights at the Syrian ports of Latakia and Tartous.

http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2006/december/12_21a_1.html
How is S-300 effective against anti-radiation cruise missiles?

Even if the Syrian turn off the radar, the electro-optical seeker will leave no chance. Nice way to waste 600m$. :)

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/aircraft/uav/harpy/harpy_t.jpg

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/missile_systems/air_missiles/delilah/delilah_1.jpg

[Moledet]

I think they also have a system to deal with low flying objects such as cruise missiles, though the Syrians will find a way to f*ck it up.

[Ren987]

With 600m$ per unit, Syria won't afford to buy many. Besides that even if the S-300 is effective against cruise missiles, a saturation barrage of dellilah/harpy/popeye/ITald or whatever else the IAF have, should be more than enough.

[DIU]

How is S-300 effective against anti-radiation cruise missiles?

Even if the Syrian turn off the radar, the electro-optical seeker will leave no chance. Nice way to waste 600m$. :)

S300PMU2 has the range of 200 km which exceeds the range of known anti-radiation and other self-guided missiles/bombs (they should not be confused with cruise missiles based on TERCOM or GPS guidance). Second, now there are methods of diverting anti-radiation missiles to the false position. Third, Syria has already ordered 36 point-defense SAM systems Pantsyr-S1 which can intercept “air-surface” missiles and bombs on the cost-effective basis (S300PMU2 can too, but its SAMs are too expensive), though they can hardly be delivered before 2009 or 2010.

However the cited article from Middle East Newsline doesn’t seem trustworthy. First, the Russian production facilities are loaded up to 2011 by the Chinese (contract of 2005) and Algerian (contract of 2006) orders; by the way, this is one of the reasons why Iran couldn’t obtain S300PMU2. Second, such a transaction cannot pass without serious discussions with Israel and USA (if even the sale of 6-km SAM system “Strelets” to Syria provoked a scandal). Third, the phrase "I think Assad will buy and deploy the S-300 over the next few months" is a nonsense because the production cycle and training of the crews take much longer time (S300PMU2 is extremely complicated system). Fourth, one division (usually 6 launchers and the main radar) costs about 125 million US$, not 600.

In short, the article is either the Arabian wishful thinking or the Israelite provocation.

[Ren987]

S300PMU2 has the range of 200 km which exceeds the range of known anti-radiation and other self-guided missiles/bombs (they should not be confused with cruise missiles based on TERCOM or GPS guidance). Second, now there are methods of diverting anti-radiation missiles to the false position. Third, Syria has already ordered 36 point-defense SAM systems Pantsyr-S1 which can intercept “air-surface” missiles and bombs on the cost-effective basis (S300PMU2 can too, but its SAMs are too expensive), though they can hardly be delivered before 2009 or 2010.

However the cited article from Middle East Newsline doesn’t seem trustworthy. First, the Russian production facilities are loaded up to 2011 by the Chinese (contract of 2005) and Algerian (contract of 2006) orders; by the way, this is one of the reasons why Iran couldn’t obtain S300PMU2. Second, such a transaction cannot pass without serious discussions with Israel and USA (if even the sale of 6-km SAM system “Strelets” to Syria provoked a scandal). Third, the phrase "I think Assad will buy and deploy the S-300 over the next few months" is a nonsense because the production cycle and training of the crews take much longer time (S300PMU2 is extremely complicated system). Fourth, one division (usually 6 launchers and the main radar) costs about 125 million US$, not 600.

In short, the article is either the Arabian wishful thinking or the Israelite provocation.

It's nothing official, just a rumor. But the timing of the visit of Bachar in Moscow leave little doubt that Bachar need new toys and urgently. Second hand S-300 cannot be ruled out either. The Jerusalem post pointed out recently that Russia is refurbished Syria in state-of-the-art AT-missile following the July war.

This make sense if you consider that a regional war is feared no later than the next year's spring.

[DIU]

It's nothing official, just a rumor. But the timing of the visit of Bachar in Moscow leave little doubt that Bachar need new toys and urgently. Second hand S-300 cannot be ruled out either. The Jerusalem post pointed out recently that Russia is refurbished Syria in state-of-the-art AT-missile following the July war.

This make sense if you consider that a regional war is feared no later than the next year's spring.
Preparing the Iranian crews for 12-km SAM Tor-M1 took a year. By the next spring even the second-hand ex-Soviet S300 with 145-km missiles of PMU1 can be combat-ready only if their crews are Russian or Belarussian. But this is pure fantasy. It would be better if all interested parties calm down their Southern spirits a bit.

[sferrin]

S300PMU2 has the range of 200 km which exceeds the range of known anti-radiation and other self-guided missiles/bombs (they should not be confused with cruise missiles based on TERCOM or GPS guidance). Second, now there are methods of diverting anti-radiation missiles to the false position. Third, Syria has already ordered 36 point-defense SAM systems Pantsyr-S1 which can intercept “air-surface” missiles and bombs on the cost-effective basis (S300PMU2 can too, but its SAMs are too expensive), though they can hardly be delivered before 2009 or 2010.

However the cited article from Middle East Newsline doesn’t seem trustworthy. First, the Russian production facilities are loaded up to 2011 by the Chinese (contract of 2005) and Algerian (contract of 2006) orders; by the way, this is one of the reasons why Iran couldn’t obtain S300PMU2. Second, such a transaction cannot pass without serious discussions with Israel and USA (if even the sale of 6-km SAM system “Strelets” to Syria provoked a scandal). Third, the phrase "I think Assad will buy and deploy the S-300 over the next few months" is a nonsense because the production cycle and training of the crews take much longer time (S300PMU2 is extremely complicated system). Fourth, one division (usually 6 launchers and the main radar) costs about 125 million US$, not 600.

In short, the article is either the Arabian wishful thinking or the Israelite provocation.



A Pantsyr-S1 missile will cost you more than a JDAM.

[firdaus_84]

Preparing the Iranian crews for 12-km SAM Tor-M1 took a year. By the next spring even the second-hand ex-Soviet S300 with 145-km missiles of PMU1 can be combat-ready only if their crews are Russian or Belarussian. But this is pure fantasy. It would be better if all interested parties calm down their Southern spirits a bit.


Agree. Intelectual wont believe such a new easily. What do they think we are? 6 years old kid...?