KOLOMNA, Moscow Region. April 17 (Interfax-AVN) - Officials from practically all Latin American countries display serious interest in purchasing Russia's Igla-S portable SAM system, which is a new development of the Machine-building Design Bureau, a spokesman for the design bureau's administration told Interfax- Military News Agency on Wednesday.
The system was demonstrated to a broad range of potential customers for the first time at the FIDAE 2002 international aerospace show that took place in Chile from April 1 to 7.
The main difference between the Igla-S system and the regular Igla missile is that the Igla-S has a higher range of fire amounting to 6km, a more powerful warhead that does not increase the weight of the missile, and a higher efficiency of operation against airborne targets with a high degree of protection from air defense means.
Besides, the Igla-S boasts new flight control drives, a laser proximity fuse and a system of control over the beam of warhead fragments adjustable to the angle of approach to the target.
The bureau had teamed up with subcontractors to integrate the Igla-S with the Dzhigit launcher and Strelets control and launching equipment set.
Nikolai Gushchin, director general and constructor general of the design bureau, said earlier that the enterprise had an agreement with the Defense Ministry on the system. "This is our property; we finance the system's development together with subcontractors. State tests of Igla-S were successfully completed under the supervision of the Defense Ministry on December 25 last year, and the results surpassed all our expectations. This is an excellent item which has a great export potential," Gushchin stressed.
According to him, "a few systems will be purchased for the Russian Armed Forces."
The Machine-building Design Bureau is one of the leading domestic defense industry enterprises. It was established in 1942 and currently operatesg in four main spheres these being portable SAM systems, anti-tank missile systems, tactical missile systems, active protection systems for armored vehicles.