Israeli Air Force chief plays down Egypt's access to S-300 missile system

Israeli Air Force chief yesterday played down concerns voiced by some of his colleagues over the possibility of Egypt acquiring sophisticated Russian-made air defences.

Russia’s TASS news agency in March reported that Egypt will receive the Antey- 2500 missile system, a variant of the S-300 missile system at a value of more than $1 billion.

Egypt and Russia have never officially confirmed the news.

The S-300 missile system is seen to represent a challenge for the Israeli Air Force.

Russia is also in talks to sell the system to Iran, which has long threatened to attack Israeli nuclear facilities if diplomatic efforts failed to allow Tehran acquire a nuclear bomb.

Air Force Chief Major-General Amir Eshel told reporters: “It [Iran possessing the S-300) is a very big challenge. It is a strategic problem long before it is an operational problem.”

“Someone who has an S-300 feels protected and can do more aggressive things because he feels protected,” he said.

But Eshel played down any suggestions Israel would be concerned about an Egyptian S-300, saying: “Are you kidding me? We’re at peace with them.”

Israel and Egypt have stepped up security cooperation against Islamist militants in recent years.

A senior Israeli officer who asked not to be named said earlier this month: “We’re all for Egypt getting anything it needs from the United States for counterterrorism.”

“The problem is that the S-300 has nothing to do with counterterrorism,” he added.

A US official said he had heard “muted” doubts over the S-300 deal, but that the Israelis seemed to have resigned to it.

“They have a problem because here they are telling us we should give [Egypt] all this kit for Sinai, and yet they have problems with certain other weapons systems. They’re aware that it’s a mixed message, and they don’t want to risk that,” the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Egypt depends on extensive US military aid, which can potentially be influenced by Israel’s own lobbying in Washington.