The Iranian S-300

Russia has declared that it may put a halt to the S-300 sale it had promised Iran. The Jerusalem Post reported that Medvedev may “reconsider the planned delivery of S-300 air defense missiles to Iran.” Israel and the United States must welcome this as an exciting development on halting Iran’s nuclear program. The S-300, also known as the SA-10 Grumble is one of the most sophisticated Surface to Air Missile systems in the world. Israel has proved it is able to beat less advanced soviet anti aircraft technology and Iran knows its nuclear facilities are vulnerable to Israeli or U.S. attack.

SA-10 Grumble Specifications:

Length (m) 7.5 m
Weight (kg) 1,800 kg
Diameter (m) 0.50 m
Propulsion Single Stage Solid Fuel Rocket
Range (km) 150-200 km
Altitude (m) 27,000-30,000 m
Speed 2.0 km per second
Warhead 145 kg HE
Guidance Radar
Source FAS

If the sale of S-300s from Russia does not go through, Iran is left with three options for the protection of their nuclear and military facilities.

1. Iran will go through a third party broker to obtain the S-300
2. Iran will further develop their nuclear and military technologies
underground.
3. Iran will continue the status quo.

Iran will likely take one of these three measures in order to counter an Israeli or U.S. attack.

Look for a more detailed analysis of this topic tomorrow morning, as well as possible Israeli countermeasures tomorrow afternoon.