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Russia to send Iran anti-aircraft systems in early 2007

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, November 24, 2006

MOSCOW — Russia has pledged to begin delivery of its TOR-M1 anti-aircraft system to Iran in 2007.

Officials said Russia's state-owned arms export agency Rosoboronexport has relayed its commitment to begin TOR-M1 deliveries to Iran by early 2007. They said the delivery schedule has been approved by the Russian Defense Ministry, and the first platforms could be sent over the next few weeks.

"Russia does not violate any accords and is resolved to fulfill it," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said.

In 2005, Iran ordered 29 TOR-M1 short-range air defense systems from Almaz-Antey in a reported $1.4 billion deal. Officials said Iran would receive batteries sufficient to equip one Iranian air defense battalion. This would include four command posts, 16 combat vehicles, trainers, surface-to-air missiles and spare parts.

The sources said Iran, the third largest military client of Russia, has demanded the immediate delivery of TOR-M1 to help protect the nation's nuclear facilities from Israeli or U.S. air strikes. They said the first facilities to receive the air defense system would be the nuclear installations at Isfahan and Bushehr.

The TOR-M1 could intercept low- and medium-altitude targets, including unmanned aerial vehicles. Almaz-Antey said the system could track 48 air targets simultaneously and fire two missiles at a time toward two separate targets.

The system has an interception range of 12 kilometers and a detection range of 40 kilometers. Greece has also procured the TOR-M1.


Copyright © 2006 East West Services, Inc.

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