Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — Russia has assembled several S-300PMU2 air defense systems
for Syria.

A leading Russian business daily asserted that Russia’s Almaz Antey has
assembled several S-300 batteries for delivery to the Syrian military.

But the daily, Vedemosti, said no complete systems have been exported to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

“This reflects the fact that some of these systems have already been completed, but halted in Russia, and other parts of the production were postponed for the future,” the newspaper said.

Vedomosti said the Kremlin blocked plans to deliver the S-300 to Syria in the spring of 2013. In a report on Aug. 9, the newspaper said deliveries were not expected before the summer of 2014.

The Assad regime has already paid several hundred million dollars as a
down payment for the S-300 project. The project, launched in 2011, was
valued at $1 billion and meant to include four air defense systems.

Citing defense industry sources, Vedemosti said S-300 production for
Syria has been suspended amid pressure from Israel and the United States.
The newspaper said Almaz has already been notified by Russia’s state-owned
arms export agency, Rosoboronexport, of the suspension.

Vedomosti said the Assad regime was not expected to formally protest let
alone cancel the S-300 deal. The newspaper said Assad needed Moscow in his
drive to quell the nearly 30-month-old Sunni rebel war in Syria.

“Syria will not raise the issue of speedy delivery of S-300, or demand a
refund, as Russia — its main foreign partner — is more valuable,”
Vedomosti said.

  Bashar Assad, but not exported, for Syria, Report: Russian S-300s assembled, Rosoboronexport, S-300PMU2 air defense system