Global General

Commander: Iran to test own S-300 missile

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-10 22:00

TEHRAN - Iran says it will soon test fire its domestically built S-300 missile system in response to Russia's refusal to provide Tehran with the defense missile shield, the local satellite Press TV reported Wednesday.

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"We had plans to buy S-300 from Russia on our agenda to meet part of our security needs, but under pressure from US and Israel, (Russia) refrained from delivering the defense system to our country under the pretext of the UN Security Council Resolution 1929," Brigadier General Mohammad Hassan Mansourian was quoted as saying.

Mansourian, a deputy commander at Khatam al-Anbiya Anti-Aircraft Artillery Base, said Wednesday that Iran will test long-range defense missiles, including domestically built S-300, in near future.

Iran inked a deal with Russia to purchase the S-300 weaponry systems in 2007, however, Russia scrapped plans to deliver the air defense missile systems to Iran as it falls under the UN sanctions, Russian Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov said in September.

The S-300 is an advanced mobile missile system which can shoot down aircraft and cruise missiles from up to 150 km away.