Since the end of 2018, it seems that the first ground/air site equipped with the nationally manufactured BAVAR-373 anti-aircraft system (also called TALASH-3) is operational.
The BAVAR-373 was developed by Iran to compensate for Russia's refusal to deliver S-300s in 2010. This system is presented as a competitor to the S-300. It includes a MERAJ-4 surveillance radar with a 450 km range, a HAFEZ fire control radar declared as AESA with a 250 km range as well as SAYYAD-3 and 4 missiles which are inspired by the American RIM-66B missiles (SM -1MR Block V) which were delivered to Iran before 1979. The maximum engagement range would be 200 km.
The delivery of the S-300s by Russia has not stopped this indigenous program and this confirms the desire of Iran, as well as a growing number of countries, to become autonomous in the production of weapons systems. The family of long-range anti-aircraft systems is growing further with the BAVAR-373 as well as the risks of proliferation of these long-range systems. The proliferation of long-range ground/air systems risks, in the long term, limiting the freedom of action of Western air forces over increasingly large geographical areas.
