RIA Novosti acknowledged what it called "significant media speculation of late concerning possible negotiations between Moscow and Tehran on the delivery of S-300 -- SA-20 Gargoyle -- air defense systems to the Islamic Republic (of Iran)."

However, Isaikin told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that Russia was being completely open or transparent about its current military and technical cooperation programs with Iran, and he repeated the established official Russian position that it was all being conducted strictly according to the requirements of international law.

"We are doing everything absolutely openly and in accordance with the current legislation," RIA Novosti quoted Isaikin as telling Nezavisimaya Gazeta. "Before we can send even a pistol, even a round of ammunition abroad, we have to coordinate the issue with a number of state bodies and receive their permission.

"Therefore, only a decision at the highest political level can give us the 'green light' to start contract negotiations," he continued.

The news agency noted that the advanced version of the S-300 missile system -- the S-300PMU1 -- was effective for more than 100 miles and that it was capable of knocking out ballistic missiles and aircraft at both low and high altitudes. Many analysts believe the S-300 can be effective against U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles that can fly at only subsonic speeds of around 650 miles per hour in contrast to modern Russian cruise missiles that can fly for 2,000 miles at speeds of up to 1,700 miles, or almost three times as fast as their American counterparts.

The Russian government has denied a number of media reports that Russia has already delivered S-300 kits or systems in kit form to Iran. The Bush administration never confirmed these reports but refused to rule them out either.

Batteries of the S-300 could be of crucial importance to Iran in defending the Islamic Republic's nuclear programs from any pre-emptive U.S. or Israeli attack.

RIA Novosti also noted that Iran had recently received from Russia no less than 29 short-range, lower-altitude Tor-M1 missiles, fulfilling a $700 million deal that was agreed upon in late 2005. The news agency also reported that Russia had prepared Iranian engineers, mechanics and technicians to operate and maintain the Tor-M1 systems and their guiding radars.

Raytheon wins $246 million Patriot spare-parts sale to UAE Raytheon announced Monday that it has won a $246 million Foreign Military Sales contract for Patriot anti-ballistic missile system spare parts from the United Arab Emirates.

The company said in a statement that the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama had approved the fixed-price contract worth $123 million. It was "the first delivery order awarded under a five-year agreement for Patriot system spares," the company said.

"These spare parts are an imperative aspect for UAE to maintain continuous Patriot system readiness," said Sanjay Kapoor, vice president for Patriot Programs at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.

Raytheon said the spare-parts contract followed hard on UAE's gigantic $3.3 billion order for Patriot PAC-3s that was confirmed in December. The United Arab Emirates are concerned about Iran's rapidly developing nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and they want to have a large number of Patriot PAC-3 batteries to provide them with an effective anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense system.

The spare parts will be manufactured by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems at its headquarters in Tewksbury, Mass.; the Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Mass.; the Surveillance and Sensors Center, Sudbury, Mass.; and the Seapower Capability Center, Portsmouth, R.I., Raytheon said.

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