The question is stated as delivery of a "S-300 or S-400 missile system." A "system" requires all the major operational components to be delivered (search radar, targeting radar, missile launcher, command post, etc.). Regarding hiding the system, while I agree that generally you don't want to give away the exact location of your military assets, it is important to credibly signal your enemies if you expect to deter them. Most of the Iranian comments to this point are probably inward directed, to create a sense of strength in the aftermath of the nuclear deal with the West. Outward directed statements (to Israel) will come when the system is actually functioning.
If true, "sometime before" is all that is known. If we knew all of the possible military parade dates, we might make other surmises. But if the picture is real in both respects, we now know.
Iran very likely had sundry units of this system from previous customers before the original question posted last fall. Obfuscation continues unabated.
Right. Even if true, since we don't know the "location-through," we don't know if this was a direct Russian delivery or just a second-hand unit. Even that one millimeter scratch placed on the unit by our infiltrated employee to encode various manufacturing details does not address the location-through case. How about the piece of bubble-gum attached to the container by our agent at the airport? :) There must be a way to nail *something* down on this critter! lol.
@ravel: OK. This is truly weird. When I wrote those comments about tracking the missiles *I actually did* think of "the Thing" ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_%28listening_device%29 ) and was going to fashion an example from that, but decided instead to use something less complicated. Then, you come back with the notion of a stand-off illuminator! That is the same principle as the Thing! I spent a weekend once trying to understand the physics behind the Thing, and it was an extremely rewarding and eye-opening experience. It really helped me in developing a general scheme for communications in general, and an understanding of signals in particular. For instance, I concluded that all received signals are first absorbed. That is, there is no such thing as pure "reflection" of energy. It is always first absorbed, then re-emitted. Even a mirror. I've found this physical understanding of signals to be extremely helpful, even as these are interpreted as "information."
I'm not sure if you've ever noticed my frequent reference to "manners" in my various comments. This concern for manners is based on my understanding of radiation absorption based on my study of the Thing. In that radiation is *always* first absorbed, it is impossible to avoid *some* effect of an energetic emission. If people had this understanding, I believe, they would be far more insistent that others desist from issuing crappy emissions in their presence. And, likewise, would have care in understanding the affects of their own emissions. I know it's a lot built upon so little, but I'm convinced there are many semantic communication problems that could be better understood if everyone gained better insight into physical signal behavior.
So, it's weird, but I guess the karmatic forces really wanted this notion of energetic illumination (and re-remittance) on the record. As always, a pleasure sharing a momentary resonance with you.
@Resonancia. You deserve more than a single upvote for your persistence and sharp eye! What an unforgettable question this turned out to be. Thank you for sharing this!
Reaffirming my forecast.
The question is stated as delivery of a "S-300 or S-400 missile system." A "system" requires all the major operational components to be delivered (search radar, targeting radar, missile launcher, command post, etc.). Regarding hiding the system, while I agree that generally you don't want to give away the exact location of your military assets, it is important to credibly signal your enemies if you expect to deter them. Most of the Iranian comments to this point are probably inward directed, to create a sense of strength in the aftermath of the nuclear deal with the West. Outward directed statements (to Israel) will come when the system is actually functioning.
Presumably the picture is authentic and the container is as purported.
http://en.mehrnews.com/news/115878/Iran-unveils-S-300-missile-system-in-Army-parades
If true, "sometime before" is all that is known. If we knew all of the possible military parade dates, we might make other surmises. But if the picture is real in both respects, we now know.
Iran very likely had sundry units of this system from previous customers before the original question posted last fall. Obfuscation continues unabated.
Right. Even if true, since we don't know the "location-through," we don't know if this was a direct Russian delivery or just a second-hand unit. Even that one millimeter scratch placed on the unit by our infiltrated employee to encode various manufacturing details does not address the location-through case. How about the piece of bubble-gum attached to the container by our agent at the airport? :) There must be a way to nail *something* down on this critter! lol.
@redacted, our former sponsors are working on something.
http://www.nextgov.com/defense/2016/04/iarpa-wants-hand-held-laser-gun-can-detect-chemicals-100-feet-away/127732/
@ravel: OK. This is truly weird. When I wrote those comments about tracking the missiles *I actually did* think of "the Thing" ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_%28listening_device%29 ) and was going to fashion an example from that, but decided instead to use something less complicated. Then, you come back with the notion of a stand-off illuminator! That is the same principle as the Thing! I spent a weekend once trying to understand the physics behind the Thing, and it was an extremely rewarding and eye-opening experience. It really helped me in developing a general scheme for communications in general, and an understanding of signals in particular. For instance, I concluded that all received signals are first absorbed. That is, there is no such thing as pure "reflection" of energy. It is always first absorbed, then re-emitted. Even a mirror. I've found this physical understanding of signals to be extremely helpful, even as these are interpreted as "information."
I'm not sure if you've ever noticed my frequent reference to "manners" in my various comments. This concern for manners is based on my understanding of radiation absorption based on my study of the Thing. In that radiation is *always* first absorbed, it is impossible to avoid *some* effect of an energetic emission. If people had this understanding, I believe, they would be far more insistent that others desist from issuing crappy emissions in their presence. And, likewise, would have care in understanding the affects of their own emissions. I know it's a lot built upon so little, but I'm convinced there are many semantic communication problems that could be better understood if everyone gained better insight into physical signal behavior.
So, it's weird, but I guess the karmatic forces really wanted this notion of energetic illumination (and re-remittance) on the record. As always, a pleasure sharing a momentary resonance with you.
At last! https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/iran-announces-delivery-of-russian-s-300-missile-defense-system/2016/05/10/944afa2e-16ae-11e6-971a-dadf9ab18869_story.html
@Resonancia. You deserve more than a single upvote for your persistence and sharp eye! What an unforgettable question this turned out to be. Thank you for sharing this!
If still open, this question "might" partially resolve today. (Sorry GJO, you blew it!)
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-iran-missiles-idUSKCN0ZY0N7?utm_source=applenews