‘Iran’s Bavar-373 Much Better Than U.S. Patriot, S-300’

Date: 23 August 2019 - 21:34

News ID: ۶۹۶۳۶

TEHRAN (Dispatches) – The domestically-built missile defense system "Bavar-373” enjoys more features and capabilities than the U.S. Patriot system and its Russian counterpart S-300, said Brigadier General Shahrokh Shahram, the head of Iranian Defense Ministry’s Organization of Electronic Industries.
"The system has been designed and developed considering the country’s need for a defense system with a long range,” Brigadier General Shahram told Iran’s state TV on Thursday night.
Bavar-373 missile system was developed as Iran "needed a missile system stronger than the Russian S-300, given the increasing threats” against the Islamic Republic, he added.
According to General Shahram, the Iranian system has a longer interception range and a greater combat power compared with the Russian counterpart, and enjoys over 10,000 compound eyes, each of which serves as a radar.
He also compared the Iranian system with the U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot systems, and said Bavar-373 is categorized at a higher class than THAAD and is much better than the Patriot system.
The surface-to-air missile system, dubbed Bavar-373, was unveiled during a ceremony on Thursday morning in the presence of President Hassan Rouhani, Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami and other senior military officials.
General Shahram’s comparison between Bavar-373 and Patriot system came after a recent United Arab Emirates intelligence report said the US-supplied Patriot system has failed to repel Yemeni retaliatory drone strikes against Saudi Arabia.
"Air defenses such as the Patriot are not capable of spotting these drones because the systems are designed to intercept long and medium range Scud missiles,” the report wrote.
"Bavar 373 is the most important indigenized missile defense system whose design and manufacturing started a few years ago and can engage multiple targets in high altitudes," General Hatami said, addressing the unveiling ceremony.
He added that the Iranian defense industry experts have gone through the reverse engineering phase and designed and manufactured the parts relying on domestic capacities.
The anti-air defense system can detect 60 targets, identify 13 targets and engage 6 targets. The system is much more powerful than the Russian S-300 and some of its features could be compared with S-400
General Hatami had earlier said that the new defense shield will be delivered to the Iranian Army's Air Defense Unit.
Also, President Rouhani appreciated the Iranian defense industry experts for developing the powerful home-made defense system.
Meantime, on Wednesday night, Iranian Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Seyed Hojjatollah Qureishi had said that Bavar 373 enjoys the capability to intercept flying objects at the range of 300km and the altitude of 65km.
"It can also detect, trace and prioritize 100 targets simultaneously and intercept 6 targets instantly," he added.
Iran designed and developed its own version of the S-300 missile shield, named Bavar 373, after the Russians shrugged off delivery of their advanced missile defense system to Iran on the pretext of the UN Security Council sanctions.
The Iranian version has superior features over the original Russian model as it enjoys increased mobility, agility and reduced launch-preparation time.
Iranian commanders had earlier said that Bavar 373 is similar to its original Russian model and traces and intercepts high-altitude targets.
After the removal of sanctions, Russia delivered S-300 air defense systems to Iran under the existing contract.

A handout picture provided by the Iranian president's website shows Iranian-made air defense missile system Bavar 373 ("faith" in Persian) during a ceremony in Tehran on August 22, 2019.