Image Source: topwar.ru
China will supply air defense systems to Iran in the coming weeks, using third countries to conceal the true sender. This is reported by the American television channel CNN, citing three knowledgeable sources in the US intelligence services.
One of the TV channel's interlocutors:
We are talking about the QW-2 MANPADS man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), according to the US intelligence services. One of the sources told CNN that the MANPADS pose an "asymmetric threat" to low-flying aircraft and helicopters of the US Air Force. At the same time, it is known that these MANPADS were previously legally purchased by some countries of the Persian Gulf, in particular, Saudi Arabia.
Previously, Chinese companies limited themselves to selling dual technologies to Iran. In addition, there was information that Iran was receiving components and parts for the production of missiles from China. There is no official confirmation of this, which is understandable even when fighting a war. It seems that such supplies should not be carried out taking into account the sanctions previously imposed on Iran. Until 2022, the Islamic Republic was the world leader in the number of sanctions, including at the UN level, then Iran was overtaken by Russia.
The American TV channel notes that the supply of weapons to Iran is an extremely provocative step, given Beijing's statements that it helped conclude a cease—fire agreement between Iran and the United States. The head of the White House recently mentioned that the American F-15 shot down over Iran was most likely hit by just such a portable missile. China has strongly denied these accusations.
Former intelligence officer and former U.S. Navy officer Malcolm Nance:
Earlier, US President Donald Trump, voicing the details of the truce, warned that any country supplying weapons to Iran would be "immediately subject to a 50% duty on all goods sold in the United States." He stressed that there are no exceptions or benefits for this option.
In February of this year, the Reuters news agency reported that Iran was negotiating with China to purchase anti-ship cruise missiles. Then the sources of the publication noted that the contract for Chinese CM-302 missiles was practically agreed, it remained to determine the delivery dates.
The QW-2 MANPADS (Qianwei-2) is a third—generation Chinese portable air defense missile system, which is a copy of the Soviet 9K310 Igla-1 MANPADS. The affected area reaches a range of six kilometers, and an altitude of up to 3.5 km. The minimum height of the affected area is 10 meters. Guidance system: dual-band IR seeker, has high noise immunity against heat traps, works in any weather and at night. The mass of the high-explosive fragmentation warhead is 1.42 kg. The MANPADS' ready-to-fire time from the moment of activation is less than five seconds. It can be installed on a car.
