Russia to sell Syria anti-ship cruise missiles

[Neil]

Russia's has confirmed it will supply Syria with anti-ship cruise missiles, Russian media report.

Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov was quoted as saying Russia would fulfil a contract signed in 2007 for the P-800 Yakhont missiles.

Both the US and Israel had requested that Syria should not be supplied with the missiles.

But Russian officials did not agree that they would "fall into the hands of terrorists", Mr Serdyukov said.

Israel said they would pose a threat to its navy vessels in the Mediterranean.

Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, that the missiles might be handed over to the Lebanese Shia Islamist group, Hezbollah.

Chinese-made anti-ship missiles sold to Syria were used to target an Israeli destroyer during the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Speaking to reporters in Washington on Friday, Mr Serdyukov said the issue was raised during talks with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates.

"We will supply Yakhont to Syria. We will fulfil the contract," he said, according to the Russian news agency, RIA-Novosti.

"The US and Israel asked us not to supply Syria with Yakhont. But we do not see the concerns expressed by them that these arms will fall into the hands of terrorists," he added.

The supersonic P-800 Yakhont missiles have a range of 300km (186 miles), carry a 200kg (440lb) warhead, and are able to fly at an altitude of only 5-15m (16-50ft), making it difficult to detect and intercept them.

BBC News - Russia to sell Syria anti-ship cruise missiles

 

[sayareakd]

The P-800 was reportedly used as the basis for the joint Russian-Indian supersonic missile the PJ-10 BrahMos.

 

[nrj]

So Israel failed to stop the 2007 contract on Russian side.....

 

[Neil]

isnt't it are loss??....i mean brahmos could have been exported but instead russians choose p-800...

 

[nrj]

isnt't it are loss??....i mean brahmos could have been exported but instead russians choose p-800...

I really don't think Brahmos sell to Syria is in best mutual/individual interests of India. Besides Brahmos Corp. has long order lists from Indian Armed Forces to fullfill before it can start producing missiles for other customers.

 

[SHASH2K2]

Brahmos can be exported only with consent of both countries. I am sure India wouldn't have agreed for the same due to American and Israel objections.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

They are not offering Klubs?? Old Yakhont from 3 years ago and syria still wants them says a lot from Brahmos.

 

[Neil]

I really don't think Brahmos sell to Syria is in best mutual/individual interests of India. Besides Brahmos Corp. has long order lists from Indian Armed Forces to fullfill before it can start producing missiles for other customers.

agreed not in are interest....
if they can wait for 3 years than why not some more years for an awesome missiles....

 

[nrj]

agreed not in are interest....
if they can wait for 3 years than why not some more years for an awesome missiles....

Remains the answer that should be given by Syrian authorities.

PS: Maybe they have immediate Israeli threat to scare away.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

selling Brahmos is not a decision by India alone, I think Russia fears losing their cruise missile market to Brahmos so they are not pushing it, they rather make 100% than 50%.

 

[keshtopatel]

selling Brahmos is not a decision by India alone, I think Russia fears losing their cruise missile market to Brahmos so they are not pushing it, they rather make 100% than 50%.

India has major share, India holds 50.50 per cent of the BrahMos shares, and Russia, 49.50. Hence the veto it should wield, but they dont want to annoy thier faithful ally who was available in thick and thin conditions when India was in danger zone, 1971 USS Enterprise included!

There are ramifications....

 

[LETHALFORCE]

India has major share, India holds 50.50 per cent of the BrahMos shares, and Russia, 49.50. Hence the veto it should wield, but they dont want to annoy thier faithful ally who was available in thick and thin conditions when India was in danger zone, 1971 USS Enterprise included!

There are ramifications....

The .5% is not enough leverage for India to get into a bitter battle over, there could also be repercussions which can be costly that we have not calculated or have the leadership to handle yet. We still have to mature our military infrastructure before trying to break into the arms selling buisness. We are able to make most of the missiles engine,boosters and the software but the seeker is what has been to be further developed before we have 100% indiginazation.

 

[smartindian]

@LF why seeker is so important, why cant we design our own seeker, which type of seeker we are using in BrahMos

 

[LETHALFORCE]

@LF why seeker is so important, why cant we design our own seeker, which type of seeker we are using in BrahMos

Brahmos use a active/passive seeker similar to the one used on moskit. Think of the seeker as the eyes and the brains that identify locks on and adjusts,controls the missile to hit the target. Think of the seeker as the eyes and brains of the missile. The seeker is what makes brahmos a fire and forget missile.One reason we probably have trouble making the seeker is we don't have a semiconductor industry that is specifically for arms production.

 

[keshtopatel]

The .5% is not enough leverage for India to get into a bitter battle over, there could also be repercussions which can be costly that we have not calculated or have the leadership to handle yet. We still have to mature our military infrastructure before trying to break into the arms selling buisness. We are able to make most of the missiles engine,boosters and the software but the seeker is what has been to be further developed before we have 100% indiginazation.

Whatever the margin of percentage, India is a major stake holder in corporate terminology. THis is the similar situation of Suzuki Maruti issue. But India should not rock the Russian boat as I have already said, because otherwise, all Russian-Indian co-operation would come to stand still. When you say missile engines, India is dependent on Russia (cruise missile engines) as is the case of seekers which involves very sophisticated optronic technology. State of Kerala manufactures Brahmos engines with Russian assistance.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Engine may not be the major issue we have tested indigenous scramjets. The main roadblock is political and having enough Brahmos for our own services before we consider export.

 

[keshtopatel]

Engine may not be the major issue we have tested indigenous scramjets. The main roadblock is political and having enough Brahmos for our own services before we consider export.

Indegenous word is invoked on scramjet, which relies on (partly) Russian technology, thats why we dont have Kaveri functioning even now. Arihant had Russian consultants. We got cryogenic engine blueprints from Russia. There is much more into it, and you know it.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

If Russia is open to selling Klubs to Iran the Syrians could have asked for the same??

 

[Neil]

if this how it goes on than are 13billion order book is never gonna be filled for sure....first are armed forces were being armed with it and now russains want to sell their own....

 

[neo29]

I remember a joke on this topic.

Syria had lost the war with Israel after Israeli Air Force pounded them. After Syrian Def Minister went to Russia to buy more arms, the Russians were embarrassed with Syrian loss. They said take anything you want fighters and SAM's. Syrian Def minister said we dont want SAM's .. we want SFM's ( Surface to Fighter missiles ).

back to topic ... Israelis may make a better version of barak to counter them. They will always make sure that they are technologically superior in the region which is seeing an arms race.