Iran claims to have integrated S-300 components with indigenous Bavar-373

An S-300 launcher and a 64N6E2 radar are seen behind the Bavar-373 TELAR during the air-defence exercise. (Iran Metropolises News Agency)

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defence Force (IRIADF) has successfully integrated its Bavar-373 indigenous long-range air-defence system with its Russian-made S-300, it was claimed on 5 February.

In a report on the second phase of an ongoing air-defence exercise, Iranian television news showed the new transporter erector launcher and radar (TELAR) version of the Bavar-373 deployed with the system's search radar and a launcher from the S-300 system at a location that could be identified as an air-defence base south of Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport.

Photographs from the exercise showed one of the two 64N6E2 ‘Big Bird' battle management radars that Iran acquired with its four S-300PMU2 fire units was also deployed along with an FL-95 communications mast, which is used to link the system's components with its command post.

“From now, the Bavar-373 will have the missiles and radars of the S-300 as a backup and they will be co-ordinated with the Iranian system's search radar,” the television reporter said.

The Bavar-373 was shown launching a missile that was reported to be a Sayyad-4B. The reporter said the IRIADF had not revealed the characteristics of the target the missile engaged, but described it as being at a very high altitude and long range. The S-300 TEL was not shown launching a missile.

For more information, please see Israel attacks Iranian missile production, air-defence sites .