Harry_Thomason
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Why some people are so surprised? Its not like Iran is making B373 from the scratch. They reverse-engineered and copied from S-300 and HQ-9, Iran had plenty of time (5+ years for S300 and 2+ years for Chinese copy). If anything, Iran's recent progress is impressive, - satellites, advanced ballistic missiles, etc. Whats so surprising about SAM copy?
More interesting claim is that Iran improved S-300, can they do it? We'll see in the next couple of years. There are very good reasons WHY they need to modify S-300:
1) US and Israel knows S-300 inside-out. They've prepared counter-measures against it, so even if Iran would have gotten shipment for 800mln., its usefulness would be limited.
2) Quantity. Even without sanctions Russia would have a hard time supplying all SAMs and supplies Iran needs, especially if war starts. With sanctions? Few S-300 here, HQ-9 there, wont make much difference (except for reverse-engineering purposes).
3) Stealth aircrafts. S-300 isnt very good for those, and they will be major issue for Iran if a war starts.
4) Sabotage from manufacturer side. Russia, US, etc. leave back-door in their equipment, so if lets say Russia sells S-300 to Iran and later starts a war against it, those SAMs will be disabled.
Due to all those reasons (and many more), its absolutely essential for Iran to make indigenous SAM. And even if B373 would be inferior to S-300, its sufficient quantity and unknown characteristics for enemies would make them more effective than latest S-300's. Plus advancement is never ending process, as soon as B373 enters mass production, superior v2 will enter design stage, etc.
More interesting claim is that Iran improved S-300, can they do it? We'll see in the next couple of years. There are very good reasons WHY they need to modify S-300:
1) US and Israel knows S-300 inside-out. They've prepared counter-measures against it, so even if Iran would have gotten shipment for 800mln., its usefulness would be limited.
2) Quantity. Even without sanctions Russia would have a hard time supplying all SAMs and supplies Iran needs, especially if war starts. With sanctions? Few S-300 here, HQ-9 there, wont make much difference (except for reverse-engineering purposes).
3) Stealth aircrafts. S-300 isnt very good for those, and they will be major issue for Iran if a war starts.
4) Sabotage from manufacturer side. Russia, US, etc. leave back-door in their equipment, so if lets say Russia sells S-300 to Iran and later starts a war against it, those SAMs will be disabled.
Due to all those reasons (and many more), its absolutely essential for Iran to make indigenous SAM. And even if B373 would be inferior to S-300, its sufficient quantity and unknown characteristics for enemies would make them more effective than latest S-300's. Plus advancement is never ending process, as soon as B373 enters mass production, superior v2 will enter design stage, etc.