Support The Moscow Times!

Russian Air Defenses to Get Powerful New Missile This Year – Report

S-300 air defense system

Russian air and missile defense units will receive a new rocket for their S-400 Triumph air defense systems this year, allowing them to shoot down ballistic missiles at medium range and even in space, news agency TASS reported Thursday, citing an unidentified defense industry source.

"The main difference between these [new] missiles and those currently used in our S-300 and S-400 systems is that, thanks to its 'smart head' and improved performance characteristics, it is able to operate in near space against ballistic missiles of medium range," the source told TASS.

The S-400 is a high-performance upgrade to Russia's powerful S-300 air defense system. The S-400 is advertised as being able to intercept ballistic missiles and shoot down enemy aircraft.

The new missile will complete trials and begin deliveries to S-400 air defense units across Russia by the end of the year, the source said. The new weapon does not change the range of the S-400 — about 400 kilometers — but boosts the system's destructive capability within that radius.

The source's information was confirmed by an unidentified source in the Defense Ministry, TASS reported.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more