Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brig. Gen. Farzad
Esmayeeli told reporters in Tehran today that Iran has “restructured” its
Russian-made S-200 missile defense system to be operated with homemade Sayaad
(“Hunter”) 2 missiles.
The Sayyad-2 static surface-to-air missiles reportedly have a maximum
range of between 200 and 350 km, using radio illumination mid-course correction
to fly towards the target with a terminal semi-active radar homing phase. The
missile is based on Russian S-75 (NATO SA-2 Guideline) and is influenced by
the Chinese HQ-2 and the HAWK and Standard missiles currently in the country’s
air defense force inventory. It was first tested in April
2011.
Iran tested its S-200 anti-aircraft missile systems in November
2010. It is a long range, medium-to-high altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM)
system designed to defend against bomber attack.
Gen. Esmayeeli also said that his command will soon test Bavar
(“Belief”) 373 system – which he described as an Iranian version of Russian
S-300 long-range air defense system. Russia has refused to deliver the S-300 to
Iran despite having signed a sales contract with the country.
File photo: Sayyad-2 missiles (Hossein Fatemi/Fars News Agecny)
