Russian S-300 To Syria Mid of 2014

Local Editor

The Russian Vedomosti daily reported Sunday that Moscow has postponed the delivery of "S-300" air defense systems to Syria until the middle of next year, based on the scheduled contracts with the Russian arms export agency's contract.

It was previously scheduled to deliver the missile system this spring.
Syria ordered four S-300 systems in 2011 at a cost of $1 billion, and has paid a deposit of several hundred million dollars, two sources in the arms industry told Vedomosti.

Meanwhile, the member of the Social Council at the Russian Defense Ministry, Ruslan Bouchov, clarified that postponement of the delivery of this system won't affect the battles against the armed groups.
"This military system isn't to be used against militants," he clarified, and noted that " it is unlikely that Syria needs this system to respond to a Western air strike."

President Vladimir Putin said in June that Moscow had not yet delivered the sophisticated anti-aircraft missile systems to the Syrian regime.

The Russian producer of missiles used in the systems said in April that it had received notice of its contract with Syria being postponed until the summer of 2014, Vedomosti reported.

In parallel, a Russian source assured that Syria will not be demanding the return of its money because Russia is its strategic political partner.
"Moscow's support for Damascus is more expensive than the delay of "S - 300"," he concluded.

Source: al-Ahed news, Translated and Edited by website team