Britain Buys Russian Surface-to-Air Missiles to Fight Terrorism

MosNews
Dec. 13, 2005

Britain has secretly bought dozens of sophisticated Russian surface-to-air missiles to fight terrorism, the Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

Defence experts have spent the past year experimenting with the shoulder-launched missile in order to protect British aircraft and service personnel. The newspaper said it knew the exact make of the missile, but has withheld the information on the government’s advice.

There are significant fears that the weapon had fallen into terrorist hands and would be targeted at civil and military aircraft. The weapon has reportedly been purchased by Libya in a multi-million dollar deal, both Syria and Iran are in negotiations to buy hundreds. And there are worries that in Iraq the missile has already fallen into the hands of insurgents who could use it to devastating effect against British or American transport planes carrying hundreds of troops.

Britain used arms dealers experienced in the Russian market to approach a state-owned arms manufacturer to purchase the system. The missiles and launchers were imported into Britain in a deal estimated at 2.8 million pounds. Ministry of Defense scientists and gunners from the Royal Artillery have test-fired them at UK bases. Britain is thought to be trying to buy another batch of missiles and the test results will be pooled with the United States.