{"id":12188,"date":"2020-10-29T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-29T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/10\/29\/iran-puts-air-defense-assets-on-display\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:12:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:12:01","slug":"iran-puts-air-defense-assets-on-display","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/opinion\/commentary\/2020\/10\/29\/iran-puts-air-defense-assets-on-display\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran puts air defense assets on display"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Islamic Republic has concluded <a href=\"https:\/\/defapress.ir\/fa\/news\/422982\/%D8%B1%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B4-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%B1%DA%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%B5%D8%B5%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%86%D8%AF-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A2%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA-%DB%B9%DB%B9-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA\" target=_blank>a massive air defense drill <\/a>showcasing select surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), launchers, radars, and command-and-control equipment. While analysts and policymakers have long focused on Tehran\u2019s offensive capabilities, what enables the regime to strike abroad with confidence is the perception of security at home, a perception abetted in part by evolving air and missile defense aptitudes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recent drill \u2014 codenamed \u201cDefenders of the Velayat\u2019s Skies-99,\u201d with \u201cVelayat\u201d being a reference to Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader and \u201c99\u201d being the abbreviated Iranian calendar year \u2014 is part of a regular series of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.irna.ir\/news\/83564415\/Iranian-armed-forces-joint-air-defense-drill-statrted\" target=_blank>joint drills <\/a>by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dia.mil\/Portals\/27\/Documents\/News\/Military%20Power%20Publications\/Iran_Military_Power_LR.pdf\" target=_blank>air defense branches <\/a>of Iran\u2019s dual military: the Artesh and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In recent years, Tehran has prioritized the readiness and integration of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tasnimnews.com\/fa\/news\/1399\/07\/30\/2374149\/%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81-%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%88-%D8%B7%D8%A8%D8%B3-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B1%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B4-%D9%BE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C\" target=_blank>air defense assets <\/a>through such drills. The lethality of these forces was on full display when <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/e4316eb989d5499c9828350de8524963\" target=_blank>Tehran shot down an American drone<\/a> over international waters in June 2019, and accidentally downed a Ukrainian airliner in January 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tehran\u2019s decision to continue these large-scale drills while beset by tough sanctions and the coronavirus should come as <a href=\"https:\/\/en.radiofarda.com\/a\/covid-19-and-iranian-foreign-and-security-policy-stasis-not-change\/30630438.html\" target=_blank>no surprise<\/a>. Highly public military exercises are a pillar of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rand.org\/content\/dam\/rand\/pubs\/perspectives\/PE200\/PE295\/RAND_PE295.pdf\" target=_blank>Iranian deterrence<\/a>, as they showcase capabilities that can signal a high-cost to any would be aggressor. While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defenseone.com\/ideas\/2018\/05\/fixing-iranian-missile-problem\/148026\/\" target=_blank>ballistic missiles <\/a>are often seen as Tehran\u2019s main tool of deterrence, they are more specifically tools of <i>deterrence by punishment<\/i>, meaning weapons that could be used to retaliate against or punish an attacker. Conversely, it is Iran\u2019s air-defense systems and SAMs that constitute the regime\u2019s tools of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nato.int\/docu\/review\/2003\/issue4\/english\/art4.html#:~:text=Deterrence%20by%20denial%20means%20persuading,to%20achieve%20his%20operational%20objectives.&#038;text=Crouch%20suggested%20that%20the%20United,by%20frustrating%20enemy%20attack%20plans%22.\" target=_blank>deterrence by denial <\/a>\u2014 meaning tools that can (ideally, for Iranian security planners) prevent an adversary\u2019s attack from being successfully carried out in the first place. As such, Iran\u2019s SAMs are the first line of homeland defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iran boasts a wide-array of domestically produced and foreign procured air defense systems, most of which are road-mobile, enabling the regime to oscillate in <a href=\"https:\/\/qz.com\/1387960\/irans-ayatollah-khamenei-brings-a-surface-to-air-missile-with-him-on-long-trips\/\" target=_blank>the protection of high-value targets<\/a> around the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While all eyes are on Tehran to see if it will procure <a href=\"https:\/\/missilethreat.csis.org\/defsys\/s-400-triumf\/\" target=_blank>the S-400 SAM from Russia<\/a> \u2014 a platform which Russian officials have stressed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.al-monitor.com\/pulse\/originals\/2020\/10\/iran-russia-s400-missile-defense-system.html\" target=_blank>a willingness to sell<\/a> \u2014 the recent drills highlighted <a href=\"https:\/\/defapress.ir\/fa\/news\/422953\/%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87%E2%80%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1-373-%D9%86%D9%82%D8%B7%D9%87-%D8%B9%D8%B7%D9%81-%D8%B1%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B4-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A2%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA\" target=_blank>a domestic Iranian system<\/a> that should not be overlooked when it comes to \u201cthe detection, tracking, and destruction of targets,\u201d according to one IRGC official. The Bavar-373 SAM system is Iran\u2019s answer to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fdd.org\/analysis\/2016\/09\/01\/understanding-irans-deployment-of-the-s-300-system\/\" target=_blank>the S-300 platform<\/a> (which it, too, received from Russia). According to Iranian press reports, while the Bavar was allegedly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tasnimnews.com\/en\/news\/2018\/09\/10\/1824898\/iran-s-homegrown-missile-defense-system-successfully-tested-commander\" target=_blank>tested in 2018<\/a>, this is the first (and <a href=\"https:\/\/defapress.ir\/fa\/news\/422951\/%D8%B4%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%81%D9%82-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1-373-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7\" target=_blank>successful test<\/a>) of the SAM system as part of<a href=\"https:\/\/en.mehrnews.com\/news\/165045\/Homegrown-Bavar-373-missile-fired-destroyed-targets\" target=_blank> a joint Artesh-IRGC air defense drill<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Formally unveiled last year, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.memri.org\/reports\/iran-unveils-bavar-373-long-range-air-defense-system-reportedly-capable-simultaneously\" target=_blank>Bavar\u2019s level of interoperability<\/a>, if any, with its Russian progenitor remains unknown. Nonetheless, if it can really engage targets out to <a href=\"https:\/\/defence-blog.com\/news\/army\/iran-unveils-new-version-of-air-defense-missile-system.html\" target=_blank>300 kilometers<\/a>, U.S. aircraft operating out of American bases in Qatar or Kuwait would immediately be within range of Iran\u2019s Sayyad-4 interceptor missiles. It is no wonder then, that Iran\u2019s hardline media <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tasnimnews.com\/fa\/news\/1399\/08\/02\/2375061\/%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B4-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B1%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B4-%D9%BE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%86%D8%AF-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B4%DA%A9-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%DA%86%D9%87-%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AA-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%B1%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%B2%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%B4-%DA%86%D8%B4%D9%85-%D8%B1%D9%82%DB%8C%D8%A8-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3\" target=_blank>hails the Bavar<\/a> as the \u201cJewel in [Iran\u2019s] defense ring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, for Iran, these air defense systems are hardly a problem for the U.S. Air Force, should the takedown of Iranian systems ever be required. Iranian systems, even on their best day, pale in comparison to the Russian and Chinese assets that Washington prepares to defeat in training and via its acquisition programs. Using a barrage of cruise missiles, a handful of long-range bombers would make short work of Iran\u2019s defenses. Syria learned this lesson in 2018, when two B-1B bombers launched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcemag.com\/syria-strike-marks-combat-debut-for-jassm-er\/\" target=_blank>19 JASSM cruise missiles<\/a> as part of a 105-weapon strike against Assad\u2019s infrastructure. Taking down Iran\u2019s air defenses, either through <a href=\"https:\/\/fas.org\/sgp\/crs\/weapons\/RS21141.pdf\" target=_blank>a suppression or destruction<\/a> of enemy air defenses operation, would require more weapons and sorties to accomplish, but would still be possible. The more pressing issue in such a scenario would be defending American bases from Iranian <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/international\/479076-iran-is-increasingly-using-missiles-in-its-military-operations-thats-a\" target=_blank>ballistic missile retaliation<\/a>, although if Iran were able to save or reconstitute even a single Bavar-373 system, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/blogs\/congress-blog\/homeland-security\/243784-making-sense-of-iranian-s-300s\" target=_blank>any aircraft in the region<\/a> (to include Western-operated airlines) would be at risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This latter point underscores the danger in a conflict with Iran. While <a href=\"https:\/\/fas.org\/asmp\/resources\/govern\/DoS_UNarmsregister_factsheet2004.htm\" target=_blank>technically excluded<\/a> by the now-lapsed <a href=\"https:\/\/crsreports.congress.gov\/product\/pdf\/IF\/IF11429\" target=_blank>U.N. arms embargo<\/a> on Iran \u2014 but prohibited under an expansive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/executive-order-blocking-property-certain-persons-respect-conventional-arms-activities-iran\/\" target=_blank>U.S. executive order <\/a>from this September \u2014 the Russian S-400 would allow Iran to target aircraft out to 400 kilometers with the appropriate missiles. Under such a scenario, there is little the United States or its allies could do stop Iran from using them without resorting to a near total air war, similar to when it set up no-fly zones over Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stopping such attacks would require constant tracking and targeting of Iranian air defense systems and radars as they reemerge, no small task in such a large country. As it stands, the fact that Iran has produced its own version of the S-300 in the Bavar-373 implies they are capable, perhaps with some Chinese or Russian components, to eventually extend the system\u2019s range or modify other systems. Unmanned aircraft attempting to conduct surveillance on Iran \u2014 which are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/20\/middleeast\/iran-drone-claim-hnk-intl\/index.html\" target=_blank>already exposed<\/a> \u2014 will face more obstacles as Iran increases its SAM capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The more confident Iran becomes in its <i>deterrence-by-denial <\/i>tools, the more dangerous the regime is likely to become in the region. Moreover, Tehran knows that the better its air defenses get, the more unlikely the United States or its allies will be willing to risk air traffic over the Persian Gulf. S-300 and S-400 systems are essentially a more effective deterrent than impeding maritime traffic near the Strait of Hormuz through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.longwarjournal.org\/archives\/2019\/05\/making-sense-of-iranian-escalation.php\" target=_blank>mining<\/a>, as Iran has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2019-04-22\/iran-will-close-strait-of-hormuz-if-it-can-t-use-it-fars\" target=_blank>previously threatened<\/a> to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In order to impede Iranian military modernization and procurement, it will be important to enforce existing sanctions, especially the new broad executive order against Iranian arms transfers. It will also be imperative to continue joint-exercises and the building-up of partner capacity. While the United States and Israel have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fdd.org\/analysis\/2020\/04\/07\/despite-coronavirus-us-and-israel-conduct-combined-f-35-exercise\/\" target=_blank>conducted<\/a> limited training with the F-35, future exercises could work in long-range bombers executing contested strikes against notional Iranian targets. This would send the message that if so inclined, the United States would easily find, fix, track and destroy Iranian defenses. Bombers can easily be postured in such an exercise to show that they are executing from ranges well outside of the Bavar-373\u2032s capabilities. Increasing training with other partners, such as the UAE, would send an even stronger message, particularly if Israel is involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iran\u2019s massive exercise, even amidst a devastating pandemic and crippling sanctions, proves that the Islamic Republic is serious about developing its <i>deterrence-by-denial <\/i>capabilities, with or without foreign assistance. The United States and its allies must be ready to prevent Iran from solidifying its ability to further destabilize the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Behnam Ben Taleblu is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he contributes to its Iran Program and Center for Military and Political Power (CMPP). Maj. Shane \u201cAxl\u201d Praiswater is a visiting military analyst with CMPP at FDD. Views expressed or implied in this commentary are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Air Force, the Defense Department, or any other government agency. FDD is a Washington-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Editor\u2019s note: This is an Op-Ed and as such, the opinions expressed are those of the author. If you would like to respond, or have an editorial of your own you would like to submit, please contact Military Times managing editor Howard Altman,&nbsp;<\/i><a href=\"mailto:haltman@militarytimes.com\"><i>haltman@militarytimes.com<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iran&#8217;s recently concluded air defense drill proves it is developing deterrence-by-denial capabilities with or without foreign assistance, say the authors of this commentary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":27993,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":77,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[77,101,25,14],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3845],"class_list":["post-12188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","category-daily-news-roundup","category-newsletters","category-opinion"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"J3NQCX4FOBFHTNR6K44D3U2JXE","arc_canonical_url":"\/opinion\/commentary\/2020\/10\/29\/iran-puts-air-defense-assets-on-display\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Iran puts air defense assets on display - Marine Corps Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Iran&#039;s recently concluded air defense drill proves it is developing deterrence-by-denial capabilities with or without foreign assistance, say the authors of this commentary.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Iran puts air defense assets on display\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Iran&#039;s recently concluded air defense drill proves it is developing deterrence-by-denial capabilities with or without foreign assistance, say the authors of this commentary.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/opinion\/commentary\/2020\/10\/29\/iran-puts-air-defense-assets-on-display\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Marine Corps Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-10-29T09:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-07T20:12:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Behnam Ben Taleblu and Maj. Shane &quot;Axl&quot; Praiswater\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Behnam Ben Taleblu and Maj. 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