In late
2016, Russian Aerospace Defence Forces successfully completed the deployment of
the first phase of the unified radar field of the early warning system (EWS).
The radar will thus be able to monitor missile launches around the perimeter of
the country's borders within a radius of 6,000 kilometers.
The
system includes not only specialised "Voronezh", "DTV",
"Dnepr", "Volga" radars, but also upgraded "Don"
radar station. Previously, the Don station was used to guide missiles, the Izvestia newspaper wrote with reference to a
representative of Aerospace Defence Forces.
"As
a result, the Russian military have received an opportunity to see everything
that happens in the air and in space from the coast of Morocco to Spitzbergen
and to the east coast of the United States. The second station was put into operation
near Armavir in 2009. The station monitors the events happening from North
Africa to India," Professor of the Academy of Military Sciences, Vadim
Kozyulin told the publication
The
Russian missile warning system consists of three elements. Space satellites
detect the launch of ballistic missiles, while ground-based early warning
stations calculate the trajectory and direction of impact. All this information
is then transmitted to Don-2N radar station in Sofrino near Moscow, and the
station directs counter-missiles accordingly.
Such
stations are currently on duty in the Irkutsk region (covering the area from
China to the US West Coast), in the Kaliningrad enclave and the Krasnodar
region. State tests are near completion in the Krasnoyarsk and Orenburg
regions. State tests of the radar station in the Altai region have commended,
while another radar station is being built in the Arctic region near Murmansk.
Once all these facilities are put in operation, they will ensure Russia
all-round defence against missile attacks.
Noteworthy,
Russia's Almaz-Antey Concern has launched the development of medium-range
anti-aircraft missile systems of new generation. Last year, the company
delivered to the Defence Ministry a complex of state-of-the-art Buk-M3
medium-range air defence missile systems.
The group
of medium-range air defence systems includes the family of Buk missile
complexes, as well as S-350 "Vityaz" which was also passed into
service in 2016.
The Buk
detection and targeting station accompanies up to 36 targets at a distance up
to 70 kilometers at all altitudes. The complex is armed with 9R31M missiles,
which, compared to its predecessors, has a higher speed and better maneuvering
characteristics. The equipment of Buk-M3 is built on new hardware components,
while digital communication means provide for a steady exchange of verbal and
military information. Self-propelled launchers of the complex house six
missiles.
The S-350
"Vityaz" complex exceeds combat capabilities of the S-300 system
several times. For the first time, the "Vityaz" system was unveiled
to the public at MAKS international air show in 2013. The complex is a
self-propelled launcher armed with medium-range missiles used for the S-400 air
defence missile system, as well as short-range missiles. The "Vityaz"
system is also armed with an all-aspect radar with electronic scanning of space
and a command post on the basis of the chassis of BAZ special vehicle.
Russia
also has short-range Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile system capable of
reaching targets at distances up to 15 km and altitudes up to 20 km. The S-400
system is a medium-range system that can strike aerodynamic targets at
distances of up to 400 km and ballistic targets at distances of up to 60
kilometers.
To crown
it all, Russia continues working on the S-500 system - a universal long-range
and high-altitude interception system with an enhanced missile defence
potential
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