Iran announced Wednesday that Russia will supply it with state-of-the-art S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. The missiles can intercept targets at an altitude of up to 27 km. and at a distance of 150 km. from the launch point. They are effective against cruise missiles and ballistic warheads as well, and are equivalent to the PAC-3 Patriot missiles which Israel is considering purchasing.

Former Israel Air Force Commander Eitan Ben-Eliyahu told Channel 10 TV that the missiles will make it harder for Israel to attack Iran from the air, if it chooses to do so. Even aircraft that do not directly participate in the attack will be endangered by the missiles, he said. AWACS planes, rescue planes and other planes with protective missions could be targeted by such long range missiles, he said.

A Russian source confirmed that dozens of S-300 batteries would be transferred to Iran.