Russia Begins To Develop 5th Gen Air Defense Missile Systems

Russia’s Almaz-Antey Concern has started to develop the fifth-generation medium-range air defense missile system.

The weapons manufacturer company has started the research and development activities (R&D) to create the fifth-generation medium-range air defense missile systems, a company official said Thursday at the Army 2016 Forum.

The R&D efforts will be conducted on the base of JSC Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design, which is the major developer of the air defense missile systems of the Buk family, Tass reported Thursday.

"The fifth-generation medium-range air defense missile system will have a deep integration with the single layered air defense system and support of the network-centric control system," the official added.

Besides, the system’s target acquisition and destruction area will be expanded. It will also feature increased jamming resistance and support of the network-centric control system, also through the application of automation and robotics.

"The new missile has a significantly lower weight. This has increased the missile system vehicle’s on-board ammunition capacity 1.5 times. The new system’s missiles are carried in containers and launched from them", Almaz-Antey said.

The Russian company this summer has tested the fourth-generation Buk-M3 missile system.