TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iran-Russia contract on the supply of several S-300 missile defense systems to Tehran will be accomplished by the end of the current Iranian year (that ends on March 20, 2017), Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli announced on Sunday.

"The supply of the S-300 missile defense system is moving on its natural course and the remaining parts will be supplied to Iran by the end of the current year," Esmayeeli said on Sunday.

A battalion of the S-300 missile defense system was showed off in military parades in Tehran earlier this year without displaying the missiles. The missiles were to be supplied to Iran later. Russia is due to deliver several more S-300 missile systems to Iran by the end of this year.

Noting that Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base has deployed the S-300 missile shield that it has received from Russia, he said that the missile defense system monitors and defends the country's airspace as part of Iran's integrated defense network round the clock.

Esmayeeli also announced his forces' plan to stage different drills in the country and unveil new technologies and productions in the missile field.

In relevant remarks earlier this month, Esmayeeli said that the S-300 missile defense system will go operational by the end of current Iranian year.

"The S-300 air defense system is being mounted and deployed and it will go into operation by the end of the current year," General Esmayeeli told reporters during a rally in Tehran attended by millions of Iranians to mark the International Quds Day.

Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan announced in May that the Russian S-300 missile defense system sent to Iran has been delivered to Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base, adding that the Iranian version of the defense shield called 'Bavar (Belief) 373' will be produced soon.

"The strategic S-300 defense system has been delivered to (Khatam ol-Anbia) air defense base," Dehqan said while visiting Khatam ol-Anbia's achievements in Tehran.

Moscow and Tehran signed a contract for the delivery of five battalion sets of S-300 PMU1 air defense missile systems in 2007.

Iran displayed the first S-300 air defense missile system imported from Russia in April.

A battalion of the S-300 missile defense system was showed off without displaying the missiles. Russia is due to deliver several more S-300 missile shields to Iran by the end of this year.

General Dehqan also announced that building of the home-made Bavar 373 defense shield is in its last stages, adding, "This defense system which can engage with multiple targets, including ballistic and cruise missiles, drones and warplanes, will be manufactured and its production line will be inaugurated this year."

Dehqan added that the long-range defense system can target several targets simultaneously.

He also visited Bavar 373 project.

Iran designed and developed its own version of the S-300 missile shield, known as Bavar 373.

The Iranian version has superior features over the original Russian model as it enjoys increased mobility and reduced launch-preparation time.

By Fars News Agency