Iran: Bavar 373 defense system ‘much better’ than US Patriot, S-300

An Iranian Army general says the domestically-built missile defense system “Bavar-373” is much better than the US Patriot system and its Russian counterpart S-300.

“The system has been designed and developed considering the country’s need for a defense system with a high range,” Brigadier General Shahrokh Shahram, a deputy minister of defense and armed forces logistics, told Iran’s state TV 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 higher 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 US-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.

Bavar-373 is a mobile missile defense system designed to intercept and destroy incoming hostile targets. The system employs missiles that have a maximum range of 300 kilometers.

The system is capable of simultaneously detecting up to 300 targets, tracking 60 targets at once and engaging six targets at a time.

Bavar 373 has two search and intercept radars, which can resist electronic warfare and electromagnetic bombs. In addition, the radars are capable of detecting anti-radiation missiles (ARM) that are used to confront air defenses.

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.

SS