Russia To Deliver Four S-300 Missiles To Belarus By Year End

The Russian Defense ministry has signed a contract with Belarus to provide four S-300 surface-to-air missile systems by yearend, local media reported Wednesday.

"If we speak about the summary for 2014, then this year we will finalize the delivery of four S-300 Zenit missile systems that will be handed over to Belarus. I think they'll enter into the Belarus military service in 2015," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted as saying during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart in Minsk Wednesday.

The contract for the supply of four S-300 systems to Belarus was signed in July during the exhibition of weapons and military equipment held in Minsk, Belarus. Russia had expressed interest to sell S-200 and Iskander missiles to China as well.

S-300 is a family of air defense missile systems capable of engaging aerial targets from helicopters to cruise and ballistic missiles.

The systems are capable of simultaneously tracking up to 100 targets while engaging 12 at a range of up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) and a height of up to 27 kilometers (nearly 17 miles).