Iran unveils first homemade rival to Russian S-300

Iran unveiled its new “Bavar 373” on Sunday during a ceremony attended by President Hassan Rouhani, according to Tasnim News Agency.

The Bavar 373 was developed by local aerospace engineers with Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base as well as scientific and research centers of the country, who spent several months developing this air defense system

Iranian security officials claim that Bavar 373 is better than the Russian S-300, as it is able to track over 100 targets, just like the Russian system but with a higher targeting capability.

In fact, Iran raised the issue of Bavar 373 during its disputes with Russia over S-300 system.

The $800-million Moscow-Tehran contract to deliver Russian S-300 system to Iran was signed in 2007. It was suspended after the adoption of the UN Security Council’s sanctions on Iran in mid-2010.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the S-300 delivery ban in April 2015, shortly after the six world powers and Iran reached a framework agreement over Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.

“Tehran will completely receive the S-300 air defense system within next month”, Iran’s defense minister, Hossein Dehqan said on Saturday, according to Tasnim News Agency. “Russia has offered Iran S-400 and some other systems, but Tehran has no plans to get them” Dehqan added.