Israel Air Chief: Nothing Can Stop Our Air Force
S-300s to Iran "More a Strategic than an Operative Issue"
By Barbara Opall-Rome 6:26 p.m. EDT May 27, 2015
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/05/27/israel-air-chief-nothing-can-stop-our-air-force/28036673/

Israel's top Air Force officer said Wednesday that Russian S-300 air defense
systems, if or when deployed by Iran, would constitute more of "a strategic
issue than an operative issue" because it would embolden Tehran to "even
more aggressive" behavior.

"It's a huge challenge," Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, Israel Air Force commander
conceded, when asked about a May 26 announcement — following meetings in
Moscow between Russian and Iran officials — that the systems would be
delivered to Iran at an unspecified time.

"But it's more a strategic issue… because whoever has the S-300 feels
protected. He can allow himself to do things even more aggressively, because
he thinks he's defended," Eshel told Defense News.

He added, "But operatively speaking, every challenge presents an
opportunity."

In an address Wednesday at the Fisher Institute for Air & Space Strategic
Studies, Eshel did not specifically single out the prospective S-300
deliveries to Tehran. He noted, however, the expanding threat of
surface-to-air missiles in the hands of Israel's enemies.

"I tell you now, and obviously this is based on all kinds of assessments
we've done … that the enemy cannot stop our Air Force.

"They can complicate our activities, but it will be pinpoint complications
here and there. But to stop this offensive machine that we have cannot be
done."

A day earlier, following a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Yevgeny Lukyanov, deputy head of Russia's security
council, was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying, the "decision on
delivering S-300 to Iran has been taken, but the realization of the project
will take some time."

Moscow had suspended action on a 2010 contract with Tehran following intense
lobbying by Israel, yet progress on talks toward a nuclear agreement with
Iran prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin last month to honor
obligations under the estimated $800 million deal.

bopallrome@defensenews.com