Iran receives first deliveries of S-400s from Russia’s Almaz-Antey - August 7, 2024
- Aug 6, 2024
- 2 min read
August 7, 2024
The New York Times, as cited by The Times of Israel on August 5, reported that Iranian officials claim Russia has started delivering advanced air defense and radar systems to Iran following Tehran’s request to the Kremlin.
Local Iranian media have corroborated Tehran’s request, and two officials, including a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, have confirmed to The Times that these deliveries are underway. According to these Iranian sources, the equipment in question is likely the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, crafted by the Almaz-Antey concern. However, it should be noted that BulgarianMilitary.com has not independently verified that it is indeed the S-400 being supplied to Tehran by Moscow.
The Times article did not specify the exact equipment requested by Iran or what has been delivered so far. Iran does already possess Russian S-300 air defense systems, although Russia has since developed the more advanced S-400 system.
The events took place amid rising tensions in the Middle East, anticipating a potential Iranian retaliation against Israel following the alleged assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
Reportedly, on August 2, a Russian transport aircraft was observed landing at Tehran International Airport. The aircraft in question was an Il-76TD operated by Gelix Airlines, which is known for being used by Moscow for military deliveries under the guise of a civilian carrier, lacking any military insignia. It’s plausible that this flight marked the first delivery of the S-400 systems, despite lacking independent confirmation. BulgarianMilitary.com cannot verify from an independent source that this particular transport on August 2 pertained to the delivery of anti-aircraft systems to Iran.
Iran has called for Israel to be “punished” for the killing of Haniya and has vowed to take action, raising concerns that the region could edge closer to all-out conflict. Additionally, Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has threatened retaliation against Israel from Lebanon following the death of its military leader, Fuad Shukr, in an attack near Beirut last week, for which Israel has claimed responsibility.
Israel, in turn, has stated it is prepared to defend itself against any aggression. As reported by Ynet, on August 4, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting with security leaders to discuss the potential for a pre-emptive strike on Iran to avert an anticipated attack. Following this, on August 5, Defense Minister Yoav Galant emphasized that Israel must be prepared to quickly go on the offensive if faced with an Iranian assault.
One of the key differences between the two systems is their range. The S-300 has a maximum range of approximately 150-200 kilometers, depending on the variant. In contrast, the S-400 can engage targets at distances of up to 400 kilometers, making it a more formidable defense system.
Another significant difference lies in the missile types used by each system. The S-300 typically employs the 5V55 and 48N6 series of missiles, which are effective against a variety of aerial threats. The S-400, however, uses a more diverse array of missiles, including the 48N6, 9M96, and the long-range 40N6 missiles. This versatility allows the S-400 to engage multiple types of targets simultaneously and at different ranges.
