Radio Free Europe – by Charles Recknagel
Russia’s S-300 missile system could dramatically change the stakes in the Syrian conflict if it is sent to Damascus, which Russia has signed a contract to do. RFE/RL lays out five things to know about the air-defense system.
What are the capabilities of the S-300 system?
The S-300 missile system is designed to shoot down aircraft and missiles at a range of 5-to-150 kilometers. That gives it the ability to destroy not only attackers in Syrian airspace but also any attackers inside Israel.
It can track and strike multiple targets simultaneously at altitudes ranging from 10 meters to 27,000 meters.
“The S-300 is Russia’s top-of-the-range air-defense system,” says Robert Hewson, the London-based editor of “IHS Jane’s Air-Launched Weapons.” “It is a surface-to-air missile system that’s capable of shooting down any modern combat aircraft or missiles, including cruise missiles. In a way, it is the Russian equivalent to the U.S. Patriot system. And what it does for Syria is it adds a whole new level of capability on top of the existing Syrian air defenses. Syria already has a lot of Russian [surface-to-air] missiles, but the S-300 would be the most advanced.”
How much would a deployed S-300 system complicate a decision by the international community to create no-fly zones in Syria?
The deployment of the S-300 system would greatly complicate any such measures in Syria.
It would similarly complicate Israel’s policy of striking targets in Syria to prevent transfers of sophisticated weapons from Damascus to the Lebanese Hizballah, Israel’s sworn enemy.
NATO used no-fly zones in 2011 to end the conflict in Libya. The zones protected civilians and allowed allied planes to destroy Libyan government units who were using force against populated areas.
A launch of the S-300 air-defense system
When might Russia deliver the S-300 system to Syria?
That is the big unknown. Moscow and Damascus signed the deal roughly a year before civil unrest against the Syrian regime erupted in March 2011. A firm delivery date has yet to be set.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on May 30 that the systems were on the way but that report was contradicted by Russian defense analysts speaking anonymously to Russian media.
One defense source told Russia’s “Kommersant” daily that the weapons contract requires Moscow to deliver the S-300 system by spring 2014.
Russian officials have refused to speak publicly about a time frame. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters this week, “I can only say that we won’t cancel the contracts.”
Are there reasons to suspect Russia is bluffing when it says it will send the missiles?
In truth, delivering the missiles could bring huge risks for Moscow. That is because the batteries likely would have to be operated by Russian crews before Syrian teams could be completely trained in their use.
“It is standard Russian practice to send your own military advisers to go in with a new customer and help train them up,” Hewson says. “And one risk in attacking [the new] S-300 — were that to happen and if the missiles had just arrived in Syria — is that you would hit Russian personnel that are with them.”
Israel, a U.S. ally, has threatened to destroy the missiles if they are deployed. If it did and caused Russian casualties, there would be a grave risk the conflict could escalate into a superpower confrontation.
Michael Elleman, a missile expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Middle East office in Bahrain, says promising to send the new missiles likely serves Moscow’s purposes better than actually delivering them.
“Ultimately for Russia, I think the threat of transferring the S-300, the ambiguity as to whether it has been sent or not, probably is their best-case scenario,” Elleman says. “Whereas if they do transfer it, bad things might happen and escalation is something that I don’t think anyone would really like to see.”
Could foreign powers find ways to circumvent the S-300 system if it were deployed?
One way to circumvent air-defense systems is to try to disrupt their operations through electronic techniques rather than attack them directly. But Elleman says it is an open question whether the S-300 could be blocked this way.
“Electronic warfare and spoofing of systems in quite common,” he says, “but one must keep in mind that the S-300 is a very sophisticated piece of weaponry. And I am not convinced that the West, Israel, or Turkey could reliably neutralize the system without taking some kind of kinetic action — in other words, going after some of the radar or some of the interceptors [with force]. So, in terms of circumventing, I think it would be very difficult and very risky.”
http://www.rferl.org/content/explainer-russia-syria-s-300-missile-system-/25003647.html
Here is a secret you must understand: When something is being announced that something is going to occur you can bet it already happened …..they have them now! I have seen this before time and time again like with the drones. The were already to be used when they were telling us they are coming by a certain date in the future but they had them when this was announced.
I hope you’re right Susan
According to Janes the Syrians had them as long ago as 1996. This new delivery may be upgrades. So between what Syria has, is getting/gotten…and the S400 systems on Russian ships off the coast, a de facto no fly zone has been established. It also stands to reason that Russia has “advisors” in Syria, and anyone foolish enough (read Israel) to harm those troops will most certainly regret having done so. The Bear is awake, upset and making his intentions clear. Provoke him at your own peril.
Funny how history has flip-flopped and now the Russians are the good (or at least better) guys.
This Article is incorrect.
one, the S300 is not Russia’s top of the line ad system , the S400 is and they are working on the s500 which has the capability to shoot down satellites in addition to the s300 and s400’s abilities.
two, Syrian military techies have already trained on this system 2 years ago they do not need Russian trainers on the ground.
Yes the Gen 2 s300 is a game changer, some countries will not be able to bomb and destroy their neighbors as they have a mind because their jets can now be destroyed even before they gain altitude.
Hey Ray, I believe the article referred to the S300s as top of the line because it is the most advanced that Russia exports. I’m not sure they sell S400s yet. And I agree that Syria has trained on the S300s…and as I pointed out, I read in Janes Defense back in 1996 that Syria had the S300s at that time. So I assume this latest shipment are upgraded versions. And it stands to reason that even if Syria has trained crews…Russia will still provide expertise and security personnel. And as a footnote, there is a lot of back and forth the past few days as to whether or not they have arrived, are on the way, or coming at a future date. But with Russian ships armed with S400s off the coast I think a clear enough signal has been sent.
“War by deception”.
Syria needs to beat Israhell at their own game – by using THEIR tactics.
I hope they have a few hundred of those missiles already, and Israhell finds out WAY to late, as in AFTER they’ve already been hammered by them.
Zionist POS scumbag pukes.
Russia has already sent them over and Russians are the ones that are operating them. Everything else you hear is propaganda BS Shills!
Putin is a good at Chess!
The greatest threat to Israel (apart from its own criminal behavior) is a future flight of its educated citizenry to other countries as they become convinced that they and their families have no future in that country.
I’m sure you are 100% correct. Israel’s real threat is the brain drain and the Israeli government is desperate about it. Many Jews are leaving for greener and safer pastures elsewhere. No doubt that is why the Nut Job running Israel is panic stricken to get all threats, meaning Iran, eliminated before it is too late. The Israeli government no doubt feels that if all threats are removed that would stanch the flow of Jews leaving Israel.
Hmmm
So when the US handed over the Patriot Missile Defense system to israel this was NOT a “game changer” This transfer of weapons was not a obstacle to peace? This missile system that is superior to the S300 is merely an example of israel’s right to defend itself?
When any other country in the Middle East attempts to emulate israel’s “defensive tactics” they are immediately labeled as threatening israel. What a load of crap. This is of course the same twisted logic that israel is using to justify being the only nuclear power in the region.
What israel is trying to maintain is military superiority in the region. They want to continue their long history of attacking their neighbors when ever the mood strikes them. The S300 would go a long way toward ending israel’s reign of aerial terror over Syria and protecting the Syria people.