Russia deploys most advanced S-400 missiles around Moscow

Moscow, Aug 6 (UNI) Russia today deployed the most advanced S-400 air missile defence system, in the town of Elektrostal, about 50 km east of Moscow.

The ceremony in Elektrostal was attended by Russian Air Force coammander Col.-Gen. Alexander Zelin and Almaz Research and Production Association general director Igor Ashurbeili.

With the deployment of the first battalion, a division of S-400 Triumph and a command post will protect the air of Moscow and its region.

The units with S-400 (NATO version SA-21 Growler) and machinery arrived at the place of permanent dislocation in the Moscow region on July 24, straight from the training ground in the Astrakhan region.

The S-400 Triumph air defence missile system is designed to destroy aircraft made with the use of the Stealth technology, small cruise and tactical missiles, as well as warheads flying at a speed of up to 4.8 kilometres per second at a range of up to 400 kilometres (twice the range of the US MIM-104 Patriot) and is capable of replacing three S-300 systems.

''The corresponding military-technical base has been created in the body of troops that adopted the S-400 system for service and the personnel has been correspondingly trained,'' Air Force spokesman Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky told Itar-Tass today.

''It is planned to use the Triumph system in the interests of the missile defence and for shielding major industrial centres of Russia,'' Drobyshevsky said.

''The regiment personnel passed examinations and had a successful drill at the Defence Ministry's training range on July 12-13,'' he said, adding the servicemen returned to their permanent location and started to prepare for the new mission.

UNI