Russia to Deploy Three S-400 Air Defense Regiments in 2014
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – President Vladimir Putin said Russia would deploy three new regiments equipped with S- 400 surface-to-air missile systems next year, with more advanced radar stations to be launched.
"Two such systems entered service this year. Another three S- 400 missile regiments will be supplied to the army in 2014," Putin told a meeting on the development of aerospace defense system in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Noting that the strategic parity depended largely on the state of the missile and space defense system, Putin acknowledged that the deployment of S-400 systems "is proceeding in a scheduled pace. "
Currently, Russia has five S-400 regiments, two of which deployed around Moscow and the rest three in the far eastern Primorye Territory, Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad and the Southern Military District, RIA Novosti news agency said.
The sixth regiment will join the two near Moscow by the end of 2013, and Russia plans to deploy 28 S-400 regiments by 2020, according to the defense ministry.
In addition, the president said seven Voronezh-class radar stations would be put into operation in the next five years, adding such stations are "effective and reliable."
S-400, which NATO calls SA-21 Growler, is capable of destroying airborne targets at a range of 400 km and tactical ballistic missiles at 60 km. The system can be switched to a combat-ready mode in five minutes.
