Iran looks to buy South Africa’s Umkhonto surface-to-air missiles

The Iranian Defence Forces is to acquire Umkhonto (Spear) surface-to-air missile system to be ordered from Denel, that was reported by www.netwerk24.com.

South Africa has applied to the United Nations Security Council to sell missiles worth R1.5
billion to Iran. The system is meant to provide ultimate all-round defence against simultaneous air attacks from missiles and aircrafts.

The Umkhonto is a mobile surface-to-air missile vertical launching system developed by Denel Dynamics. The Umkhonto was designed with a 23kg warhead for high-kill probability, unlike other missile systems in its class.

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This news follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding in December 2016 between Iran and South Africa to boost defence and military cooperation.

According to the agreement, the countries will bolster cooperation in the fields of marine security and fighting organised crime.

Although Iran was removed from the United Nations’ list of countries to which no weapons can be provided, approval from the UN’s sanction committee is still needed for missile technology.

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