Russia will deliver S-300 PMU-2 air defense missile system to Syria.

Russia`s Ministry of Defense (MoD) will beef up the capabilities of the Syrian air defense (AD) system in accordance with an instruction given by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, according to Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. The Syrian governmental forces are set to receive a modern variant of the S-300 surface-to-air missile, the S-300 PMU-2 (SAM) system within two weeks.

Mobile launch unit of Russian-made S-300 PMU2 air defense missile system (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Russian-made S-300 PMU-2 air defense missile system can intercept air attack assets at a distance of more than 250 km and engage several air targets simultaneously. Having a better jamming resistance and rate of fire, the system will shore up the capabilities of the Syrian air defense in a substantial manner. "In 2013, we suspended the delivery of the S-300 system to Syria, following an appeal of the Israeli side. It should be mentioned that the system was prepared for shipping, and the Syrian crews had already been trained. However, the situation has changed, and it has happened through no fault of ours," Shoigu added.

Moreover, the command posts of Syrian AD units and formations will be fitted with automated command and control (C2) systems that are used only by the Russian military. It will result in the centralized control over the Syrian AD assets, air environment monitoring and rapid target acquisition, guaranteeing the ability of the Syrian AD system to identify Russian aircraft.

The satellite navigation systems, onboard radars and communications units of combat aircraft attacking objects on the Syrian territory will be jammed in the areas of the Mediterranean Sea adjacent to Syria. "We are convinced that the implementation of these measures will cool hot heads and deter from hasty acts jeopardizing our servicemen. In a reverse situation, we will have to react in a proper way," Shoigu concluded.

The S-300PMU-2 Favorit NATO designation SA-20B gargoyle B , introduced in 1997, is an upgrade to the S-300PMU-1 with range extended once again to 195 km with the introduction of the 48N6E2 missile. system is apparently capable against not just short range ballistic missiles, but now also medium range tactical ballistic missiles.

The S-300PMU2 Favorit can engage targets flying from 10 m to 27 km above the surface at a speed of up to 10,000 km/h. It is claimed that it has a kill ratio ranging from 0.8 to 0.93 against aircraft and from 0.8 to 0.98 against Tomahawk-class cruise missiles. The S-300PMU2 can engage up to 6 targets simultaneously while providing guidance for up to 12 missiles - two missiles per target ensuring target kill. The S-300PMU2 Favorit can use the launcher unit 5P85TE and 5P85SE.

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