Russia sends S‑400 systems and troops to bolster Iran's defense

Although Russia is facing a shortage of air defense systems for its own use, it has decided to support Iran. According to media reports, Moscow sent Tehran valuable S-400 systems and Russian soldiers to operate the equipment.

The Ukrainian portal Defense Express reminds us that Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu visited Iran on Monday, August 5. He met with President Masud Pezeszkian, among others. During the meeting, the main topic of discussion was the "expansion of bilateral partnership for global security and peace." The Russians also called Iran "one of the key and strategic allies in the region."

The alliance between Tehran and Moscow has strengthened since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, evidenced by, among other things, deliveries of Iranian drones to Russia, as well as the "recently finalized agreement on expanding military and intelligence cooperation." The cooperation continues, and Iran has turned to the Russian Federation with a request for modern air defense systems to prepare for war with Israel. Sources among Iranian authorities – as reported by Defense Express – believe that the Russians positively responded to this request, so weapon deliveries have started.

According to analysts, Tehran might need the equipment primarily to defend against Israel's announced attacks on nuclear facilities. However, Defense Express highlights that Iran already has a substantial air defense arsenal, including four divisions of S-300PMU2 systems, three divisions of S-200 systems, and an unknown number of Iranian Bavar-373 systems, which are said to be similar to the S-300.

As we read, Iran has asked the Russian Federation for S-400 systems capable of shooting down ballistic missiles. Analysts at Defense Express seek confirmation of this in events from March 2023, when media reported on Tehran's active search for S-400 systems in the Russian Federation. However, no official statements emerged indicating the two countries had signed an agreement on transferring the mentioned weapons, possibly because, as early as last year, Russians were already facing a shortage of S-400 systems.

Defense Express points out that in addition to the potential transfer of S-400 air defense systems from the Russian Federation to Iran, Russian soldiers must also be sent to Tehran to operate the weapons. This would not be surprising, as Israeli media suggest that the Russian Federation might have already provided Iran with Iskander and Murmansk-BN air defense systems and the necessary personnel.

Defense Express discusses the S-400 system, whose potential transfer from Russia to Iran. This valuable piece of equipment can intercept any air threat: aircraft, helicopters, drones, and ballistic missiles. This weapon's range can be 25 miles when using 770-pound 9M96 missiles or even 250 miles when equipped with 40N6E missiles weighing about 4,000 pounds. An intermediate solution used for firing in the case of the S-400 is 48N6DM/486E3 ammunition, which reaches about 155 miles.