Sources from the Russian Defense Ministry deny that Syria has already received any of the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles they have been contracted to deliver, though Russian officials maintain that they still intend to complete the deal.
The speculation was fueled by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s interview today with Hezbollah-run al-Manar TV, in which he made comments about having received unspecified weapons shipments from Russia, without directly addressing the S-300.
Since the comments came in response to a question about the S-300, there was speculation, particularly in the Israeli press, that this amounted to a confirmation of some of the shipment already being delivered.
The issue is an important one because over the past few days Israeli officials have presented the delivery of S-300’s as a “red line” for war with Syria, and have even threatened to attack the Russian Navy over attempts to deliver the shipments.
S-300 missiles are the most advanced in Russia’s arsenal, and in the wake of recent Israeli attacks Syria has been eager to complete the contracts to acquire them. The defensive system would make Israeli or Western attacks on Syria much more difficult to carry out.
He didn´t say that Ditz.
He said "parts of the deal have already been implemented" and that Syria when it comes to military capacity and equipment, don't reveal what it have and what it doesn´t. Quite clear Ditz, don´t you think?
They might or they might not. One thing we can say with certainty is that the whole Russian armada sailing alongside it´s coast are full with them and later versions and that Tartus surely are guarded with such weapons,under Russian surveillance and mighty Vladimir told the Zionists to back off, so…
I think Ditz is correct, what news source are you quoting from?
The S-400 system is the most advanced in Russia’s arsenal.
One correction Jason:
The S-300 is the most advanced surface to air system currently EXPORTED by Russia. Domestically, the Russian state uses the S-400 (it has a whopping 250 mile range compared to the 125 of the S-300) to protect the Russian mainland along with upgraded versions of the s300. The s500 is currently in the trial stage and is expected to be ready next year. The Russians claim that it will be the world's first surface to air system capable of intercepting ICBM's as far away as low earth orbit.
One positive attribute of all of this talk of Russian defense systems in the mainstrean press as of late, is that it puts to rest the notion that Russia primarily uses rusted Soviet era equipment, as both the S-400 & upgraded S-300 systems are products of the Russian Federation – which has also developed the Bulava ICBM, The Iskander missile & the Borey Class submarines which have been replacing the enormous "Red October" Typhoon Class submarines in the Russian Navy.