(New York Times) Michael R. Gordon and Eric Schmitt - Russia has sent advanced anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria, American officials said Thursday. The Yakhont missiles delivered recently are outfitted with an advanced radar that makes them more effective. The Yakhont anti-ship missile system "enables the regime to deter foreign forces looking to supply the opposition from the sea, or from undertaking a more active role if a no-fly zone or shipping embargo were to be declared," said Nick Brown, editor of IHS Jane's International Defense Review. "It's a real ship killer." Syria ordered the coastal defense version of the Yakhont system from Russia in 2007 and received the first batteries in early 2011, according to Jane's. The missiles have a range of 180 miles.
2013-05-17 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive