What is C-300 and why Russia sells them to Azerbaijan ("Zhamanak", Armenia)

Armenia has reacted ambiguously to reports of the sale or probable sale of anti-aircraft missiles by Russia to Azerbaijan.missile S-300 systems. If the Armenian authorities or experts close to the authorities remain silent or do not see anything “dangerous” in this deal, then independent experts are ringing the bell – the sale of S-300 systems to Azerbaijan will make serious changes to the military balance of power in the region, moreover, this deal has an obvious political subtext.

Note that the C-300 - is an anti-aircraft missile systems with an average radius of action. The production of complexes began in the 1979 year and is periodically upgraded. The C-300 complexes are designed to protect large industrial and administrative facilities, military bases from enemy air and space attacks. The complexes have the function of detecting ballistic and air targets. Have the ability to attack and shoot down ground targets using pre-specified coordinates.

The S-300 is the world's first multi-barrel anti-aircraft missile system, which has the ability to fire 12 missiles in the direction of up to six targets. The S-300 system has many modification capabilities, which differ in their missiles, radars, capabilities for protection against electronic attacks, and capabilities for combating ballistic missiles that fly at long range at low altitudes. The S-300 PMU-2 "Favorit" was introduced in 1997 as a modernized version with a range of up to 195 kilometers. For this purpose, they even created a new type of missile - 48H6E2. This new system can combat ballistic missiles with both short and medium ranges. S-300 systems are used mainly in Eastern Europe and Asian countries. All modernized types of S-300 systems are used in Russia, China (this country bought a license to produce this system) weapons, in China this complex is called Hongqi-10), India (this state paid 1995 billion dollars in 1 for six batteries of the complex with the aim of protecting against Pakistani short-range missiles), Cyprus, Iran (although there is still no official confirmation of this and it is considered controversial - whether there are S-300 complexes in Iran), Vietnam (which purchased two batteries of the complex for approximately 300 million dollars), Hungary (which received S-300 complexes from Russia for a debt of 800 million dollars), in all likelihood, in Syria, Algeria, Belarus (this country bought two modernized types with two batteries), Bulgaria (which has ten S-300 complexes), at one time these complexes were used in the former GDR (the complexes were later returned to Russia, but NATO specialists, according to Russian sources, managed to study the structure of this weapon in detail), Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Ukraine (there are 49 batteries of the S-300 complex here) and in the Republic of Korea, where a simplified version is being developed S-300 systems. According to Russian sources, according to some information, Armenia also has S-300 systems. At the same time, we are talking about at least two divisions of the systems, but it is unknown whether they are under the control of Armenia or Russian military bases. It should also be noted that the S-300 systems have not yet been used in real military operations. Countries that operate these systems mainly use them during military exercises.

Could be worse?

There is an Association in Russia whose members are military political scientists. They analyze just such a deal. We talked with military political analyst Vasily Belozerov.

- Mr. Belozerov, when it became known about the sale of C-300 complexes to Azerbaijan, it was announced that Azerbaijan was acquiring weapons for defense against Iran. What does Azerbaijan fear and why did the need for such a defense come about?

- Frankly speaking, I do not know the details about this deal, but I treat your concern with understanding - bearing in mind the heightened situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But one thing I can say for sure - C-300 is one of the types of anti-air defense systems, and does not pose any threat to your republic. And the question of whether or not there is a threat from Iran must be asked to the Azerbaijani side. But, irrespective of everything, irrelevant - Azerbaijan acquires these weapons for defense against Iran or from another country. I believe that by and large, if desired, Azerbaijan can find a lot of people who justify that the real threat comes from the Armenian side. I do not say that they are right, I am talking about how the Azerbaijani authorities can be guided.

- There are opinions in Armenia that, as a strategic partner of Armenia, the Russian Federation should not sell these weapons to Azerbaijan, as this will upset the balance of forces in the region.

- I have already said that C-300 is not an offensive, but a defensive weapon, so that references to the fact that the balance will be broken, are not so correct. Moreover, if we take into account the fact that there are joint military units to ensure the security of Armenia, and the air defense also works well. There are also missile systems designed for offensive operations, and the C-300 is not intended for attack. In order to acquire these weapons, Azerbaijan turned to Russia, but it could turn to the United States, and this would not lead to anything good for Armenia, since it could strengthen the influence of the United States in the region and especially in Azerbaijan.

- In Armenia they say that this deal actually has a real political implication. Do you see this subtext, or do you think this is just an economic transaction?

- Russia's actions in the Caucasus, of course, have political aspects. However, it is difficult for Russia to stand on one side - to support only Armenia or Azerbaijan, since everyone has their own truth. Azerbaijan has its own, and Armenia has its own. Georgia also had its own truth when it attacked South Ossetia. But the Russian Federation is still interested in improving relations in the region. Yes, of course, there are certainly political aspects here, and one of them is that, as I said, for Armenia itself it’s better that Azerbaijan received the C-300 complexes, and not the American Patriot complexes. In any case, if the deal goes through, then these steps of the Russian Federation will not mean that Russia wants to aggravate the situation in the Caucasus.

PS By the way, the sale and purchase of such complexes, like C-300, are not regulated by the Treaty on the Limitation of Conventional Arms in Europe. That is, there are no restrictions on this issue. At the same time, experts say that Armenia, as a country that has close relations with the Russian Federation, had to arm itself with intelligence information in advance that Russia is preparing to make such a deal and from the inside try to prevent it before it became publicly known. And today, as experts say, the question arises - before the publication of this information was the Armenian side aware of this deal or not? And if not, why not?

Translation: Hamlet Matevosyan