Sputnik- Iran's production of the Bavar 373 ground-to-air missile system is progressing well, but its capabilities are unlikely to rival the Russian S-300, editor of Russian magazine "Arsenal of the Fatherland" Viktor Murakhovsky told RIA Novosti.


Earlier this week, Iran's deputy defense minister Amir Khatami announced that Iran is carrying out�tests of�its Bavar (Belief) 373 long-range air defense system.


"Work with�the Bavar 373 complexes is progressing as�planned, testing of�the complex has been carried out. These tests will continue to�be carried out�until the complexes are delivered to�their units," Khatami said, RIA Novosti reported.

The Bavar 373, which has similar characteristics to�Russia's S-300 system, was unveiled in�August 2016. The project was launched in�February 2010, after�Russia suspended a $900 million deal signed in�2007 to�deliver the complex.

Russia stopped the delivery following�UN Security Council resolution 1929 that banned the sale of�weapons to�Iran. In April 2015, during�successful negotiations between�Tehran and the 6+1 groups of�countries regarding Iran's nuclear program, Russian President Vladimir Putin removed the embargo and Russia delivered the S-300 last year.

Nevertheless, Tehran has persevered with�its plans to�produce its own ground-to-air missile system Iran unveiled the Bavar 373 in�August 2016.

Editor of�Russian magazine "Arsenal of�the Fatherland" Viktor Murakhovsky told RIA Novosti�that production of�the Bavar 373 is in�the experimental phase and as�such the system is far from�matching the capabilities of�Russia's S-300 system.
"The S-300 is a system on�another level, a long-range system which is developed and reliable. What the Iranians are doing is developmental work and the production of�prototypes. Nobody knows the real characteristics of�this complex yet, including the Iranian media. I wouldn't expect this complex to�enter into�service with�the Iranian army in�the next few years," Murakhovsky said.


The expert added that so far, Iranian developments in�military equipment have been based on�older equipment from�the Soviet Union or the UK.

"I don't really believe that the Iranians have started making something from�zero, taking into�account their level of�scientific and technical development. This is probably a creative copy of�an old complex. We can see this based on�the example of�the Iranian anti-tank missile systems. One of�them is almost a copy of�the American TOW 2, which they received back then, and the second is a copy of�the Soviet Konkurs. Exactly the same thing is happening with�the air defense systems," Murakhovsky said.

Editor of "National Defense" magazine Igor Korotchenko told RIA Novosti that Iranian experts will find it difficult to�copy such a complex system as�the S-300. He referred to�China's unsuccessful attempt to�replicate the S-300PMU-1 with�its FD-2000, which lacks the anti-interference capacity and range of�the Russian model.
"I can say with�absolute certainty that any attempts by�foreign countries to�clone or replicate the S-300 are doomed to�fail. Even if they are able to�produce something, the anti-air missile system will be very different from�its Russian counterpart, and not in�a good way."


Korotchenko recommended that the Iranians concentrate their efforts on�obtaining more Russian surface-to-air missile systems rather than�trying to�build their own.

"If Iran is thinking about�its security then it doesn't need to�develop its own system, but�continue to�purchase Russian air defense systems, creating a layered system of�national aerospace defense which will include firepower, radar and automated control systems," Korotchenko said.

The first video released of�Iran's S-300 test strikes.

On Friday, Iran released the first video of�test strikes from�its S-300 system. Judging by�the reaction to�the test, it appears the missiles hit their targets.

Russia's S-300 surface-to-air missile system has a range of�up to�150 km and can hit targets at�an altitude of�up to�27,000 meters traveling at�2,800 meters per second. Its 92N6E multi-functional radar has a 400-kilometre range which is able to�engage six targets simultaneously.