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Iran successfully tests advanced air defense system

Iran has significantly upgraded its air defense system with the Russian-made S-300 system. 

Iran has successfully tested the advanced Russian-made S-300 air defense system during another round of war games that commenced in the country on Saturday, Iran’s Fars News reported Sunday.

A ballistic missile was traced and targeted by an S-300 system, Air Defense Commander Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli stated.

During the drills, code-named Damavand, a mock enemy drone was also targeted and destroyed by the S-300 defense system and different stages of detecting, tracing and intercepting threats were assessed in an electronic warfare scenario. All targets were destroyed by the missile system.The drills were conducted in the presence of different Iranian military units and government officials

Russia delivered the S-300 system to Iran in 2016, nearly 10 years after the signing of the initial contract. Iran signed the $800 million contract to buy the S-300 missile system in 2007, but Russia suspended their delivery three years later because of strong objections from the United States and Israel.

The US and Israel view the S-300 deal as destabilizing.

After the Kremlin announced the sale of the advanced system to Iran in April 2015, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed Israel’s “grave concerns” regarding the Russian decision to sell the surface-to-air missiles.

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The Israeli leader told Putin this sale will “only encourage Iranian aggression in the region” and “further undermine the stability of the Middle East.”

The S-300 is one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world, designed to intercept aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles.

Iran’s acquisition of the surface-to-air missiles will make an aerial attack on Iran by the US or Israel a much more complex and dangerous task.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News