Russian officials confirm the delivery of anti-aircraft missile systems to the Assad regime

The general director of the Russian state defence export agency Rosoboronexport, Anatoly Petrovich Isaykin today confirmed that the agency is delivering various anti-aircraft and anti-ship missile systems to the Assad regime in Syria.

Isyakin was quoted as saying that the missiles are capable of shooting down NATO aircrafts, in case the US led alliance decides to intervene in Syria militarily. He was speaking to media representatives from the American daily, New York Times.

Earlier Hillary Clinton, the American Secretary of State has accused Russia of sending military helicopters to Syria, which can be used for attacking civilians. She also claimed that Russia is planning to send mercenaries and a number of amphibious assault ships to the Syrian port city of Tartus. Several of the Syrian Armed Forces’ important installations and facilities are located at Tartus.

Defence analysts claimed that the latest statement is merely meant to scare away or delay the Western military intervention, saying that the weapons Russia is supplying are not militarily significant at this point of time. Russia have repeatedly assured the Western nations that all of its arms sales to Syria are of defensive nature, and they are not delivering any weapons to the regime, which can be used for offensive operations.

Isyakin said that a number of anti-aircraft missile systems, including the 9K317 Buk-M2, and the Pantsir-S1 are being purchased by the Syrians, in addition to the anti-ship missile K-300P Bastion-P. He refused to reveal the exact financial details of the purchase contracts. Ruslan Aliyev, a Russian defence analyst said that the weapons are not very technologically advanced and that they will have only a limited significance against the NATO fighter jets and missiles.

The 9K317 Buk-M2 is a medium range Surface-to-Air Missile system (SAM), which is having an operational range of 30 miles. In addition to various ex-Soviet nations, the missile is used by the armed forces of Egypt, China, North Korea and Finland. The Pantsir (SA-22 Greyhound) is a short range SAM, which can also be used as an anti-aircraft artillery weapon system. The Bastion-P is a mobile anti-ship missile system developed and manufactured by the NPO Mashinostroenia. The Russian Navy currently deploys the missile onboard its vessels in the Pacific Fleet.