Russian Troops Arming Themselves with S-400 Air Defence Systems

Russia has set up sixteen air defense regiments rearmed with advanced S-400 Triumf air defense systems in the last five years, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Gen. Valery Gerasimov said.

"Over the past five years, 16 air defense missile regiments have been rearmed with the S-400 surface-to-air missile complex. This system detects and destroys targets at a distance that exceeds by more than two times the capabilities of the latest Patriot modifications operational in NATO countries while the S-400 deployment time is five times less compared to its US variant," the general was quoted as saying by TASS at a board meeting of Russia’s Defense Ministry Tuesday.

S-400 Triumf is by far Russia's most advanced surface-to-air missile system that has a range of 400 kilometers (248 miles) and is capable of tracking and destroying all existing aerial targets, including ballistic and cruise missiles.

Last month, TASS reported that the state armament program envisages the arrival of 56 S-400 battalions for troops by 2020, which will make it possible to rearm 28 two-battalion air defense missile regiments.

Russia has also armed 19 battalions with the Pantsyr-S missile/gun system capable of striking all air assault weapons, including small-sized unmanned aerial vehicles, the chief of Russia’s General Staff said.

"Over 130 advanced radar stations capable of detecting low-signature and low-flying air attack weapons have arrived for radio-technical troops," Gerasimov said.

The General noted that the Russian troops will also get an over-the-horizon radar station, which is currently nearing completion. It will help "perform missions for detecting massive takeoffs of aircraft and the launch of missiles, including hypersonic weapons, at a range of over 1,000 km from our borders,” he said.

Russia’s air units and military formations have been annually receiving over 200 advanced aircraft since 2013, such as Sukhoi Su-30SM, Su-34, Su-35S and Mikoyan MiG-31BM tactical aircraft, Kamov Ka-52, Mil Mi-28N and other combat helicopters, the General Staff chief said.

"As a result, 12 air regiments, three brigades and six army aviation regiments have been rearmed with the advanced hardware," the general added.