Tel Aviv: Russia appears to be preparing to remove the advanced S-400 air defence system from the Khmeimim Air Force Base in Latakia, Syria. This after this country was taken by rebels and its president received political asylum in Russia.
Although Russia has had S-400s stationed in Syria for years, it has purposefully refrained from using them to target Israeli aircraft that regularly strike locations thought to be connected to Iran throughout that conflict. Before each such strike the Israeli air force uses a special “Hot Line” to give the Russian forces an early warning about the planned strike.
Satellite images released show that the system’s launchers have already been loaded, and the 91N6E radar is packed and ready to be loaded onto an AN-124 heavy transport aircraft. This aircraft, capable of carrying an exceptionally heavy load, indicates Russia’s intention to move the system to another region or return it to Russian territory.
Removing the S-400 system from Syria could reduce Russian air capabilities in the region and affect the strategic balance of power in the Middle East.
The S-400 Triumph is a mobile air defence system developed in the 1990s by Russia’s company NPO Almaz. According to Iran International, the website operated from London by the opposition to the regime in Tehran, Iran has not requested for Russia’s S-400 air defence system. The website quotes an IRGC official emphasising the superior capabilities of Tehran’s domestically developed air defence systems.
“Our current systems offer far superior capabilities compared to the S-400,” said Davood Sheikhian, deputy for operations of the IRGC Aerospace Force, in a video interview shared by state-controlled media. He added that Iran is also actively using the Russian-made S-300 system and sees no need for the S-400.
According to Israeli sources, this may change after the Israeli air force recently destroyed the three Iranian S-300 batteries.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
