Moscow to Be Covered with Second S-400 Regiment

Russia’s Space Defense Strategic Command received the second regiment of long-range S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missiles. The hand-over ceremony took place at Kapustin Yar missile test range in Southern Russia, on February 16. According to the Russian military, the regiment includes two battalions that have eight missile launchers each.

RIA Novosti cited the head of the Space Defense Strategic Command Gen. Leit. Valery Ivanov who said yesterday that after the test firing at Kapustin Yar the new regiment will move to its constant deployment location near town of Dmitrov, north of Moscow. The first regiment equipped with the S-400 is already deployed in Elektrostal, east from Moscow – it received its two battalions in 2007-2008. “We need not less than three or four S-400 regiments for effective air defense of Moscow. This [will be completed] in 2016-2020”, said Ivanov.

S-400 launcher and radar vehicles (credit - Russia's Defense Ministry)

S-400 was designed by Moscow-based Almaz-Antey Concern as a joint system intended to replace the well-known S-300V (SA-12 Gladiator) in the Army and S-300PMU (SA-10 Grumble) in the Air Defense Forces. According to the Russian military, S-400 can engage aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles as well as hypersonic aerial vehicles at the range of up to 400 km and at altitude of 40-50 km.

Ivanov also mentioned the development of more advanced S-500 air defense system that will enter the production phase since 2014. “This system will be able to fulfill defense tasks in near outer space”, he explained.