Iran 'successfully' tests S-300 air defence system

Iran "successfully" tested the Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile defence system, Press TV reported on Saturday.

During the test, conducted in the presence of several Iranian military and government officials, the missile system successfully detected, tracked and intercepted a ballistic missile, the report said.

The test was also aimed at analyzing the performance of the S-300 system, assessing the capability of the system in engaging targets with a low radar cross section and ballistic missile threats as well as the ability of Iranian officers to use the system.

Iran purchased the system from Russia and integrated it into the defence system of the country in 2016.

Tehran is now designing and manufacturing an indigenous version of the S-300 system, called Bavar-373, Brig. Gen. Farzad Esmaili, the commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defence Base, was quoted as saying.

Bavar-373 would be more technologically advanced than S-300 and would be tested "in the near future", he said.

--IANS

ahm/bg