On Sunday Iranian President Hassan Rouhani unveiled the country's long-awaited, domestically-built Bavar-373 surface-to-air missile (SAM) defense system.
The home-grown system, which was successfully test-fired in�August 2014, is similar to�the Russian S-300 and is capable of�hitting high altitude targets.
On Monday, the country�s Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan announced that Tehran is set to�begin the mass production of�its Bavar-373 air defense system once the practical tests that are expected to�continue until�March 2017 have been completed.
All the above�has sparked speculations that the system is an answer to�and a substitute to�Russia�s systems, which have yet to�be delivered to�Tehran under�an existing contract.
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Bavar-373[/caption]Mahmud Shoori, Director of�Eurasia Research Group at�the Center for�Strategic Research (CSR), a leading Iranian think tank, has commented to�Sputnik on�the issue.
Technologically, he said, it is quite hard to�distinguish what the two systems, Russia�s S-300 and its Iranian analogue, the Bavar-373, have in�common or how they differ from�each other, and if they could be used simultaneously for�similar purposes or not.
However what is more important here is that the domestic development of�such a system underscores that the policy of�Iran�s military defense industry is aimed at�satisfying all of�its military needs independently and on�its own, to�the extent it is possible. He said Tehran is particularly interested in�independently ensuring the Islamic Republic's strategic goals, one of�which is the defense of�its borders.
Throughout its existence, the expert stressed, Iran has never relied on�the support of�other states but�only on�its own capabilities.
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Iran's President Hassan Rouhani (R) and Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan stand in front of the new air defense missile system Bavar-373, in Tehran, Iran August 21, 2016.[/caption]However, he noted, Iran�s military defense complex needs an inflow of�the most advanced foreign ideas and technology and operationally ready military equipment to�ensure the gradual development of�its military defense industry and that it is able to�comply with�the needs of�the time.
That is why the country had signed an agreement with�Russia on�the delivery of�its S-300 air defense systems.
�On the whole, I don�t see any problems for�Iran continuing its purchase of�Russian S-300 under�the existing contract, while simultaneously developing and showcasing the achievements of�its military defense industry,� Mahmud Shoori told Sputnik.
The top priority for�Iran�s military defense complex is to�maximize the independent production of�its own strategic armament, he explained.
The expert, however, noted that the two systems significantly differ in�quality and functionality; however, they could supplement each other.
It remains to�be seen how they will be used in�combat � separately or together.
Back in�2007 Moscow and Tehran signed an agreement for�the delivery of�five battalion sets of�Russian S-300 PMU1 air defense missile systems.
In 2010 Russia halted the deliveries due to�a United Nations Security Council resolution imposing sanctions�� which included a ban on�the sale of�high-tech weapons.
After the cancellation of�the arms deal, Iran demanded $4 billion in�compensation from�the Russian state.
In April 2015, after�an interim agreement that paved the way for�July's full nuclear deal was signed President Putin lifted that self-imposed ban.
Russia has already delivered the first battalion of�S-300PMU-1/SA-20 Gargoyle SAM batteries to�Iran.
The S-300 is a long-range SAM system, and can engage aircraft, cruise missiles and theater ballistic missiles.
One S-300 battery usually consists of�an engagement radar, a low-altitude radar, and up�to eight transporter erector launchers (TEL) with�four launch tubes each.
Each tube carries one surface-to-air missile. A battalion comprises up�to six batteries in�addition to�a command/fire and control post, as�well as�an extra target acquisition radar unit.
During Iran�s annual National Day Parade in�April, the Iranian military displayed a S-300 target acquisition radar unit, a radar station and a mobile radio antenna. However, no TELs or missiles were displayed.
The S-300 SAMs currently being delivered are an upgraded version of�the weapons systems initially ordered by�Iran in�2010.
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In front of the portraits of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, and late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, left, a long-range, S-300 missile system is displayed by Iran's army during a parade marking National Army Day at the mausoleum of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, outside Tehran. file photo.[/caption]In July 2015, Russian Presidential Aide for�military-technical cooperation Vladimir Kozhin announced that Russia would update the S-300 SAMs to�meet specific Iranian needs, but�didn't offer any technical details.
Kozhin recently said that Russia will complete the delivery of�S-300 air defense systems to�Iran by�the end of�the year.
Mahmud Shoori gave a positive forecast for�continuation of�military-technical cooperation between�Russia and Iran.
�As far as�I know, our defense minister has said that Iran has currently no need for�an agreement on�the delivery of�the advanced missile defense systems. What we already have in�service and what is now being delivered by�Russia is enough to�satisfy the demands of�our defense industry,� he told Sputnik.
However, he added, the military industry does not stand still and is developing. It is highly possible that Iran is going to�face new geopolitical challenges in�the near�future and thus will have new defense needs.
Political conditions will then dictate what Russian military technology will be of�interest to�Iran.
�I personally think that the military-technical cooperation between�our countries is certain to�continue,� he said.
�However the subject of�our deals will depend on�a number of�factors including the further development of�bilateral relations between�Russia and Iran,� he added.
By Sputnik News
