Russia Developing New Air Defense Systems

Russia developing new air defense systems

MOSCOW - Russia is developing two air defense systems as part of future multilayered aerospace defense network, Air Force Commander Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said on Tuesday.

"The Morfey is a short-range air defense system with effective range of five kilometers," Zelin said. "It is designed to protect military installations and has both active and passive weapons [launchers and radars]."

Another system, the Vityaz, is a further development of the S-300 medium-range air defense system, whose combat capabilities largely surpass those of its predecessor.

"In fact, it could be considered a brand new system," Zelin said, adding that the Vityaz would have a launcher with 16 missiles compared to only four on the S-300.

Both systems will complement the S-400 and S-500 air defense systems in the future aerospace defense network to engage targets at ranges from 5 to 400 kilometers, and at altitudes from 5 meters to near space.

The Morfey, the Vityaz and the S-500 are expected to enter service with the Russian Air Force in 2015, while the S-400 has been in service since 2007.

Zelin said the Russian Air Force would receive two more regiments of S-400 Triumf air defense systems by the end of 2011 in addition to two regiments already deployed in the Moscow Region.

The S-400 (SA-21 Growler) system can engage targets at a maximum range of up to 400 kilometers at altitudes of up to 50,000 meters.

The system uses a range of missiles optimized for intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles. It can simultaneously track up to 300 targets and engage 36 of them.

An S-400 air defense regiment consists of two or three battalions equipped with four systems each. Russia is planning to arm 56 battalions with S-400 systems by 2020.(Sumber : Information)