Syria prepares for arrival of Russian S-18 missiles

MOSCOW - A Syrian military delegation headed by chief of staff Gen. Ali Habib has concluded arrangements for the delivery of the S-18 Igla-S missiles, Russian industry sources said. The Syrian delegation, which completed a three-day visit to Russia on Sept. 30, discussed delivery, training and maintenance of the S-18 as well as the procurement of other weapons. "The two countries have agreed that [S-18] delivery would begin no later than early 2006," an industry source said.

During his visit, Habib and his delegation toured Syrian defense facilities, including the production line of the S-18, manufactured by KBM Engineering Design Bureau. Industry sources said Habib discussed such issues as support and training for the S-18 with his Russian counterpart, Yuri Baluyevsky, as well as representatives from the Russian state arms export agency Rosoboronexport. The sources said the S-18, originally a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile, has been modified for deployment on Soviet-origin armored personnel carriers in the Syrian Army. The system is designed to fit more than one vehicle. On Sept. 28, Habib met Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov in Moscow.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the meeting focused on "maintenance and modernization of Syrian military equipment by Russian experts, the training  of Syrian military in Russian military academies and potential purchases of Russian weapons." Habib also reached agreement with Russia for additional purchases of munitions. Industry sources said they included the Kornet-E anti-tank missile, procured by Syria over the past two years. Moscow also agreed to increase the training of Syrian military officers, a Russian Defense Ministry official told the Interfax news agency. The official said the number of Syrian military personnel invited for study in  Russia would increase from 30 to more than 50. - By Geostrategy Group.