Bashar Assad receives first batch of Russian S-300 systems

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview with Lebanese television channel Al-Manar that Damascus had received the first batch of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems. 

Bashar Assad receives first batch of Russian S-300 systems. 50209.jpeg

Another batch of Russian renowned air defense complexes is expected to arrive in Syria in the nearest future.

Previously, Washington criticized Moscow for its plans to arrange the shipments of anti-aircraft missile to Assad's troops in the event the EU was going to supply its weapons to the Syrian opposition.

The S-300 is regarded as one of the most potent anti-aircraft missile systems currently fielded. Its radars have the ability to simultaneously track up to 100 targets while engaging up to 12. S-300 deployment time is five minutes. The S-300 missiles are sealed rounds and require no maintenance over their lifetime. An evolved version of the S-300 system is the S-400 (NATO reporting name SA-21 Growler), entering limited service in 2004.