Moscow's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport denied a media report on Thursday which said Russia has agreed to deliver S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems worth $300 million to Azerbaijan.

Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport signed an agreement with the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on the supply of two batteries of S-300 anti-aircraft systems, the Vedomosti daily reported, citing Russian arms industry sources.

"We know nothing about this contract," Russian news agencies quoted Rosoboronexport spokesman Vyacheslav Davidenko as saying.

"Rosoboronexport has no information about deliveries of S-300 missiles to Azerbaijan and has no contractual obligations whatsoever on this matter." He did not elaborate.

If the report had been true, it would have been the largest single arms purchase by one of Moscow's former Soviet satellites.

Russia has put on hold delivery of the same S-300 system to Iran for long.

Vedomosti quoted an unidentified Russian military official as saying Azerbaijan had probably purchased the anti-aircraft system to help secure itself against any deterioration in the situation involving neighbouring Iran.

Israel, most experts estimate that it has at least between 100 and 200 nuclear warheads, often threatens the Islamic republic with an attack.

In Russia's armed forces, an S-300 battery normally consists of four truck-mounted installations, each with four missiles held in metal tubes.


Agencies


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