First Train With S-300 Missile Systems’ Elements From Russia Arrived in Minsk :: Charter'97 :: News

On Friday at 8 a.m. the first train with S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems has arrived in Minsk from Russia, Belarusian defense minister Leonid Maltsev said.

As said by him, “in 2006 the question of delivery would be closed, and systems will be deployed in Belarus”.

The mobile multi-channel anti-aircraft missile system S-300 has been created by the concern “Almaz-Antei”. It is aimed for defense of military and industrial objects from massive attacks of aerial threats and for antiaircraft defense lines creation. It was developed as a long-range system to defend strategic targets against both conventional aircraft and cruise missiles.

As we have informed, recently an influential analytical periodical Jane’s Defense Weekly has published an article about possible transit deliveries of Russian missiles to Iran via Belarus. Suspicions of the analysts of the journal focus on a recent contract: Belarus is buying Russian S-300 medium-range surface-to-air missile systems, which can soon get to Iran, the Radio Svaboda informs.

The analysis of the magazine Jane`s Defense Weekly is primarily based on the information of intelligence from reliable sources. They say that Belarus is probably getting ready for re-export of Russian military technologies to Iran.

As the weekly informs, since the beginning of the year 2005, Belarus has been conducting intensive negotiations with Russia on purchase the last, most modern version of missile systems S-330 SP. According to reliable sources the American weekly refers to, a contract for delivery of a certain quantity of such complexes was signed last year, and its realization had been planned for the end of the last – beginning of this year.

However, military analysts are convinced that Belarus does not require such complexes. The magazine reminds of January visit of a delegation of high-ranking Iranian politicians and military officers to Minsk. According to the sources of the magazine, during this visit deliveries of Russian-made S-330 SP missile systems were discussed. They are needed by Iran to defend from potential attacks of the USA and Israel.

Besides, it is more advantageous for Russia to sell missile complexes to Iran not directly, but through isolated Belarusian regime, Jane’s Defense Weekly writes. Russia remains the main seller of nuclear technologies to Iran, and has lots of problems in negotiations with the West because of that. In any case, Belarus has a reputation of arms supplier to the countries against which international embargo is imposed.

American analysts write that any suspicion in the risky missile contract of Minsk and Teheran will be closely examined by the West, and Russian president Vladimir Putin would experience a strong international influence with a demand to stop missile complexes deliveries to Belarus.