Russia to deploy newest S-500 air defense system
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E-mail Xinhua, August 21, 2014
Russia will deploy its newest S-500 air defense systems to protect Moscow and central regions, a senior military officer said Wednesday.
"I am certain that after the development and testing phases, the first S-500 regiment will be put in service with units defending Moscow and central Russia," Aerospace Defense Forces Commander Andrei Demin was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying.
The remarks came as he inspected the Ashuluk testing range in the southern Astrakhan region, where a large-scale air defense drill was underway.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Klimov said regiments of the S-300 Favorit and S-400 Triumf air defense systems launched around 20 rockets, repelling a simulated mass air missile strike from high-altitude, low-altitude and ballistic targets.
The exercise involved some 800 servicemen and 200 pieces of military equipment, which also included the Pantsir-S air defense systems.
The S-400 system, which can engage targets at a maximum range of up to 400 km at an altitude of 40,000-50,000 meters, is expected to form the cornerstone of Russia's air defense by 2020.
The S-500 systems will have an extended range of up to 600 km and is capable of engaging up to 10 targets simultaneously.
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