S-300 Missile System Successfully Tested

Iran on Saturday tested the S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system, which has been purchased from Russia and integrated into the country’s defense system. The missile system successfully detected, tracked and intercepted a ballistic missile during the test launch, Press TV reported. The test-firing was conducted in the presence of several military and government officials at a shooting range in one of the country’s defense units, whose location was not mentioned. The military exercise was carried out with the aim of analyzing the performance of the S-300 system, assessing its capability in engaging targets with a low radar cross-section and ballistic missile threats as well as the ability of Iranian officers to use the system. Russia committed to delivering the S-300 systems to Tehran under an 800-million-dollar deal in 2007 but stopped the process in 2010, citing the UN Security Council sanctions, which barred hi-tech weapons sales to Iran. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the ban on the delivery of S-300 in April 2015 after an agreement between Iran and major powers paved the way for the conclusion of the nuclear deal in July of the same year. In October 2016, Moscow said it concluded the delivery of the S-300 systems to Iran.