World Tribune.com

Syria seeking multiple-warhead missiles from Russia

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Thursday, May 31, 2001

MOSCOW — Syria has expressed interest in the purchase of a Russian multiple-warhead missile.

The Russian system would allow Syria to launch attacks on Israel that would resist the anti-missile defense batteries being deployed by the Jewish state.

The Iskander-E missile system was a focus of discussions during last week's visit by Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlas. Tlas presented two lists for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Iskander-E has a range of 280 kilometers and contains multiple warheads that separate in mid-flight. Designers of the system said the Iskander-E can carry multiple 480-kilogram warheads, with each warhead containing 54 bomblets. Russian defense officials said the system can foil any anti-missile defense effort of Israel or the United States. Israel has deployed one battery of the Arrow system.

"There are powerful forces who are pressing for this sale to Syria," a Russian defense source said. "A first condition is that the Syrians have the money to pay for this."

The source said Syria wants at least eight Iskander-E systems. Other weapons on Syria's shopping list is the SU-30 combat jet, the S-300PMU-1 anti-aircraft system, the Tor-M-1 short-range anti-aircraft system and the Ka-52 attack helicopters. The Ka-52 is an upgraded version of the Ka-50 in a partnership that includes the state-owned Israel Aircraft Industries.

The Moscow-based Kommersant newspaper said Tlas's shopping list also contains the S-200E anti-aircraft missile systems, upgraded T-55 and T-72 tanks, BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, MiG-25 interceptors, and MiG-29 fighters.

The second list presented by Tlas was for an upgrade of Syrian weapons. These include upgrades of Soviet MiG-25 aircraft and tanks.

In all, Russian defense sources said, the Syrian shopping list totals between $1-$2 billion. Russian-Syrian relations were discussed on Tuesday during the visit of former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov to Damascus. Primakov was sent to the Middle East as an envoy of Putin.

The sources said Russia is unlikely to offer Syria the S-300. Instead, Moscow is expected to propose the short-range Tor-M1 system.

"The purchase by the Syrians of the short-range TOR M-1 and Buk M-1 systems could be the most sensible alternative," Konstantin Makiyenko, a strategist at the Russian Centre for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, said.

Thursday, May 31, 2001


See current edition of

Return to World Tribune.com Front Cover
Your window on the world

Contact World Tribune.com at world@worldtribune.com