Russia Develops Own THAAD-like, GMD-like Missile Defense Systems

[Hindustani78]

08.04.2015)
Russia to Showcase Iskander Missiles During V-Day Parade / Sputnik International

More than 1,000 troops and dozens of modern missile and artillery pieces and armored vehicles will take part in a Victory Day military parade in Volgograd, in southern Russia.

The list of the cutting-edge weapons systems to be rolled out during the May 9 display includes, among others, the Iskander mobile theater ballistic missile system and the Bereg and Khosta self-propelled artillery systems, the Southern Military District’s press service said on Wednesday.

Also taking part in the parade on the city’s Fallen Heroes square will be T-90A tanks, BMP-3 armored vehicles, MSTA and Khosta self-propelled guns, Tornado-G multiple rocket launchers, TOR, Strela-10 and Tunguska air-defense systems, Tigr armored cars and other hardware.

 

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TASS: Russia - Russia to triple production of missiles for air and missile defense in 2015 — source
April 09, 11:49 UTC+3
The defense-industrial complex has been ordered to step up the production of missiles manufactured for air defense and missile defense complexes by 200%, a source at the Defense Ministry has told TASS

"The defense-industrial complex has been ordered to step up the production of missiles manufactured for air defense and missile defense complexes by 200%, which is to considerably increase the capabilities of the newly-created arm of the Russian armed forces — the Air and Space Force," the source said, adding that the production of missiles would grow by thousands.

"Alongside this the task was set to increase production rates and at the same time reduce the deployment deadlines for new systems and complexes of the air and anti-missile defense in various regions of the country, including Crimea and the Arctic," the source said.

The deputy commander of Russia’s Air and Space Defense Force, Major-General Kirill Makarov, said last week the risk of a potential global strike by the United States was the main reason behind the measures for strengthening the air and anti-missile defense. He said the development of air and anti-missile defense systems was a priority.

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TASS: Russia - Russian army to get long-range missiles for S-400 air defense systems in 2015
April 09, 13:41 UTC+3
The state trials of the new standard long-range missile for S-400 systems are planned to be completed no later than May-June, after which it will be put into service, a source says

MOSCOW, April 9. /TASS/. New missiles for S-400 Triumf air defense systems capable of destroying medium-range ballistic missiles in the near-earth space will become operational in the Russian Armed Forces this year, a source in the country’s defense and industrial sector told TASS on Thursday.

"The state trials of the new standard long-range missile for S-400 systems are planned to be completed no later than May-June, after which it will be put into service," the source said.

"Its main distinction from the missiles currently used by our S-300 and S-400 systems is that it has a ‘clever warhead’ and improved combat characteristics, which enable it to hit medium-range ballistic missiles in the near-earth space," the source said.

The new missile will have a maximum range of 400 km (248.5 miles) similar to the range of the missile recently put into service for S-300V4 ground force air defense systems but "its components base and some other characteristics are better," the source said. "All these factors enable the missile to operate against ballistic missiles at outer space altitudes."

The source gave no exact altitude for the new missile to hit the targets but said "it considerably exceeds the altitude of S-300 missiles, which are currently becoming operational with S-400 systems."

A source in Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed this information to TASS.

Russian Aerospace Defense Force Deputy Commander Maj.-Gen. Kirill Makarov said last week Russia’s Defense Ministry had successfully tested a long-range missile for S-400 air defense systems at a range of slightly less than 400 km. The missile could not be test-fired to its full range due to the limited length of the shooting ground, Makarov said.

When the new missile is put into service, the firing range of S-400 missiles will rise from 250 km to 400 km, the general added.

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09.04.2015
Missile operators of Russia’s Eastern Military District will undergo a special retraining course to handle the state-of-the-art Iskander-M ballistic missile system.

During the six-month course at a test range in the southern Astrakhan region the missile system operators will be learning the ins and outs of the advanced tactical ballistic missile complex to culminate in a real-life missile launch.
It is the second unit of the Russian Missile Forces to be armed with the Iskander-M complexes, military officials said.

The Iskander-M (also referred to as NATO's reporting name SS-26 Stone) is characterized by high mobility and maneuverability, as it takes just 20 minutes to place the system in operational readiness.

The system is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 500 kilometers, with a precision of around 30 centimeters.

It can hit troop concentrations or underground command centers, depending on the warheads placed on the rockets. If necessary, its missiles can also be armed with nuclear warheads.

The Iskander-M missile system has been used by the Russian military since 2006.

 

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TASS: Russia - Russian air defense units practise firing S-300 missiles at southern test site
Russian air defense units practise firing S-300 missiles at southern test site
Russia
April 10, 15:20 UTC+3
The crews of the S-300 missile launchers hit targets simulating hardly detectable, low-flying objects and ballistic missiles

MOSCOW, April 10. /TASS/. The battalions of two air defense regiments from the Kola Peninsula’s air defense division, which is an organic part of the Northern Fleet, has practised firing S-300 missiles at a southern test site near Astrakhan, in the lower reaches of the Volga River, the fleet’s spokesman, Captain First Class Vadim Serga has said.

"The crews of the S-300 missile launchers hit targets of the Armavir type, simulating hardly detectable, low-flying objects and Pishchal targets, simulating ballistic missiles. Each of the regiments hit three targets," Serga said.

Earlier on Friday, it was announced that cadets from the Yaroslavl branch of the Mozhaisky Air and Space Academy practised firing S-300 missiles at the Ashuluk test site near Astrakhan. Five Pishchal targets were destroyed.

 

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Russian Aerospace Force to Conduct 8 Drills in 2015 / Sputnik International

"Overall, there will be eight Aerospace Defense Force drills in 2015 with air and missile defense units," Zolotukhin said.

According to the spokesman, the drills, set to be held in the Astrakhan Region in Russia's south, will involve firing exercises with air defense missile systems.

Zolotukhin also said that the Aerospace Defense Force would receive new radar stations, radio equipment and missile systems.

In March, Russian held the snap inspection of its Northern Fleet's combat readiness, as well as that of the units of the country's Western, Southern and Eastern military districts. Some 80,000 troops, and thousands of units of equipment took part in the drills.

 

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TASS: Russia - Sakhalin, Kuril air defense units conduct field firing exercise in South of Russia
April 15, 15:44 UTC+3
Combat crews conducted the drills, firing from the IGLA man-portable surface-to-air missile systems, Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as Tunguska anti-aircraft missile and gun systems

MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. Air defense troops of Russia’s Eastern Military District have conducted field firing exercises in the Krasnodar region, the district’s spokesman Colonel Alexander Gordeyev reported on Wednesday.

"Anti-aircraft defense units of the Eastern Military District, stationed on the Sakhalin and Kuril Islands have conducted combat drills within a tactical exercise with field firing at a specialized range in the Krasnodar region. Combat crews conducted the drills, excellently firing from the IGLA man-portable surface-to-air missile systems, Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as Tunguska anti-aircraft missile and gun systems," Gordeyev said.

According to him, antiaircraft defence troops had to engage up to 10 simultaneously launched aerodynamic targets at different altitudes, speeds and directions, hitting them on a collision and pursuit course. "All the targets were destroyed with the minimum possible use of ammunition," the spokesman said. He added that the Tunguska missile and gun system crews also conducted firing at ground-based targets.

 

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Russia Developing Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft System for Arctic / Sputnik International

Russia Developing Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft System for Arctic
© AP Photo/ Alexander Zemlianichenko
Military & Intelligence01:31 15.04.2015(updated 10:25 15.04.2015)

Russia's KBP Instrument Design Bureau is considering developing a special tracked version of its Pantsir (SA-22 Greyhound) self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and missile system for use in the Arctic.

The Pantsir is typically mounted on a wheeled chassis, however its maneuverability in the heavy snow is "significantly restricted," Vladimir Popov, director general of the KBP subsidiary JSC Scheglovsky Val, told the TASS news agency.

He added that the idea of basing the Pantsir on the special tracked chassis produced by the JSC Ishimbayskiy machine-building plant was being studied and that some follow-up experiments were also planned to test its viability in polar areas.

Popov said that KBP had previously integrated Pantsir's combat module and radar on the tracked GMZ-352M1E chassis produced by the JSC Minsky track plant for the United Arab Emirates.

The director general also said that KBP was working to increase the Pantsir's reliability in severe climate conditions.

"Icing-up is the main problem," he said. "We are improving both the chassis' reliability and the frost-resistance of different oils and power fluids.

The Pantsir system is already “protecting Russia's northern borders," he said, adding that "three serial-wheeled SA-22s have been deployed at the Temp air base (on Kotelny Island) since 2014."

The operating temperature range of the Pantsir modification for the Russian armed forces runs from negative 50 degrees to 50 degrees.

Bolstering Russia’s presence in the Arctic region is part of the country’s military strategy through 2020. President Vladimir Putin said in late 2014 that Russia is not planning to militarize the Arctic, but is taking necessary measures to ensure its security in the region.

 

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TASS: Russia - Prototype of new RS-26 ICBM to be shown to US side by year end
April 20, 18:27 UTC+3
The RS-26 missile, also known as Rubezh, was created on the RS-24 Yars ICBM basis

MOSCOW, April 20. /TASS/. A prototype of the RS-26 new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) will be demonstrated to the American side within the framework of the implementation of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-3), says tender documentation posted by the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) on the public procurement website on Monday.

"Ensure demonstration of the new-type RS-26 ICBM to the American side at the ICBM production facility — Votkinsk Machine Building Plant," the document says.

This work will be done by the Center for Ground-Based Space Infrastructure Facilities Operation — the winner of the tender, according to the Roscosmos commission’s decision announced on Monday. The Space Agency will allocate for these purposes more than 11 million roubles. The contact is valid until November 25, 2015.

The Center’s specialists "are to organise a visit of a US inspection group accompanied by Russian experts who will arrive for the RS-26 prototype demonstration, including accommodation and meals, transport, communication, souvenirs and, if necessary, medical and other services," the document says.

The RS-26 missile, also known as Rubezh, was created on the RS-24 Yars ICBM basis. The new upgraded missile will have a multiple warhead and is expected to be lighter than Yars. The RS-26 ICMBs will be only mobile launched, as no silo basing is envisaged for them.

According to previous reports, the RS-26 missile is to be put on combat duty already in 2015. A source in the Russian General Staff told TASS that the Irkutsk Guards Missile Formation in Siberia will be the first to receive the new ICBM.

Commander of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) Colonel General Sergei Karakayev said in late 2014 that the new missile would have lower mass than Yars. "We always say that we need to reduce the size (of missile systems). Speaking of the Yars land-based mobile missile system, to date, its launcher weighs more than 120 tonnes. We will make the improved missile’s weight characteristics under 80 tonnes," said the commander.

"By improving the rocket fuel component, a solid fuel component, we are creating a new missile system, which we can deploy also on different soils and in different positioning areas. You understand that it has a better off-road capability and it is smaller in size, so its combat survivability will be higher, and it will require less camouflaging facilities," Karakayev said. "We will not put it in silos, as it’s a land-based mobile missile system," he added.

 

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TASS: Russia - Second train with S-400 missile systems arrives in Russia's Kamchatka
April 20, 12:54 UTC+3
The new antiaircraft missile system units will soon replace its predecessor - the S300 missile system

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, April 20. /TASS/. The second of the total five trains with equipment of S-400 Triumph antiaircraft missile systems has arrived in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Russia's Far East, the press service of the Eastern Military District reported on Monday.

"This is the second of five trains on which the combat equipment is transported from the Kapustin Yar state range (Southern Russia) to Kamchatka," the press service said.

The dry cargo ship that has delivered the train carried a total of 670 tons of cargo, including 36 military equipment units. The equipment was delivered to the home bases in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Vilyuchinsk.

According to previous reports, the first special train with the S-400 systems arrived in Kamchatka about a week ago. The new antiaircraft missile system units will soon replace its predecessor - the S-300 missile system.

The S-400 Triumph (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) was developed as an upgrade of the S300 series of surface-to-air missile systems. The system entered service in April 2007 and the first S-400 was deployed in combat in August 2007. Russia set up four S-400 regiments defending national airspace in the Moscow region, the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, and the Eastern Military District. The S-400, manufactured by Almaz-Antey, is capable of targeting up to 36 airplanes at a range of 150 kilometers. The S-400 has the ability to not only shoot down airplanes, but also ballistic missiles.

 

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TASS: Russia - Russia’s missile warning system financed in full despite economic woes — defense firm
April 22, 11:58 UTC+3
Russia’s missile early warning system comprises both the ground-and space-based elements

MOSCOW, April 22. /TASS/. Negative trends in the Russian economy have not affected the financing of Russia’s missile early warning system, defense technology firm RTI Deputy Chief Designer Dmitry Stupin said on Wednesday.

"The economic situation in the country has not affected the financing of the task for the development of the missile attack warning system and financing is provided in declared volumes in compliance with the agreements that were signed," Stupin said.

The economic situation in Russia has not affected RTI either, he said.

"Actually all the contracts, which we’re fulfilling, are under control of the state’s top officials and are being financed in compliance with the spending volumes that were declared. In this regard, we have not come across such problems so far. As for future projects, we can predict some problems but generally we are provided with contracts until 2025," the deputy chief designer said.

Russia’s missile early warning system comprises both the ground-and space-based elements.

Russian Missile Early Warning System Chief Designer Sergey Boyev said late last year that no uncontrolled missile-dangerous directions remained in Russia. At the same time, Russia still had to restore its space-based missile early warning echelon as the system’s last satellite Oko-1 designed to detect ballistic missile launches ceased to work in April 2014.

It was reported that the first new satellite would be launched before the end of 2015.

 

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TASS: Russia - Russian army holds Buk-M2 air defense missile system firing exercises first time this year
May 25, 12:22 UTC+3
The firing exercises that involved over 300 air defense personnel marked the concluding stage of preparations by the Alkino air defense brigade of the Central Military District

SAMARA, May 25. /TASS/. The Russian army held firing exercises with Buk-M2 medium-range surface-to-air missile systems for the first time this year, successfully thwarting an imaginary enemy’s cruise missile attack, the press office of Russia’s Central Military District said on Monday.

"The combat crews of Buk-M2 air defense missile systems have prevented a simulated enemy tactical cruise missile attack on the positions of an integrated combined arms force at the Kapustin Yar firing range in the Astrakhan Region," the press office said.

"These were the first firing exercises of Russian air defense forces using Buk-M2 missile systems," the press office of the Central Military District said.

Surface-to air missiles were fired concurrently at two complex targets, the press office said.

The firing exercises that involved over 300 air defense personnel marked the concluding stage of preparations by the Alkino air defense brigade of the Central Military District, the sole unit in the Russian Ground Forces operating Buk-M2 air defense missile systems.

 

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Air defense missile units taking part in Russian snap combat readiness exercises have been relocated to the Astrakhan Region to take part in the ongoing massive drills.
26.05.2015

"Air defense missile units taking part in the snap combat readiness exercises for aviation groups and anti-air defense troops in Russia's Central Military District have been redeployed to Kapustin Yar and Ashuluk in the Astrakhan Region," Russia's Ministry of Defense said.

The units will be tasked with target coverage.

Additionally, over 100 aircraft are set to be deployed for the drills in the next 24 hours, according to the ministry.

The four-day drills involving 12,000 military personnel, up to 250 aircraft and 700 pieces of military hardware were launched on Monday on President Vladimir Putin's orders.


Air Defense soldiers during exercises, Ashuluk firing ground

Soldiers during a military exercise involving S-300/SA 10 surface-to-air missile systems at the Ashuluk training ground, Astrakhan Region.

S-300 missile hits “enemy fighter” at Ashuluk

Air defense drills at Ashuluk range

S-300 surface-to-air missile systems

 

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TASS: Russia - Aircraft wipe out hypothetical enemy air defense amid snap check in Russia's south
May 28, 15:20 UTC+3
The relocated aircraft included frontline bombers Sukhoi-24M, reconnaissance Sukhoi-24MR planes, fighter-bombers Sukhoi-25SM, MiG-31 interceptors and Mi-8 helicopters

VOLGOGRAD, May 28. /TASS/. About 45 helicopter gunships and attack planes have coped with the mission of eliminating a hypothetical enemy’s air defense at the Ashuluk and Kapustin Yar proving grounds, the press office of the Southern Military District has said.

"The pilots hit all surface targets planted in unfamiliar terrain," the spokesman said.

By now the aircraft have landed at the Marinovka airdrome near Volgograd, where they had been relocated from Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Korenovsk and Monchegorsk. The relocated aircraft included frontline bombers Sukhoi-24M, reconnaissance Sukhoi-24MR planes, fighter-bombers Sukhoi-25SM, MiG-31 interceptors and Mi-8 helicopters.

The combat readiness check of the air force and air defense units of the Central Military District began on May 25. Some units from the Western and Southern military districts, long-range aircraft and military transport planes were involved in the exercise in which a total of 12,000 troops, 250 aircraft and about 700 pieces of military equipment are participating.

 

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Choo, Choo! Russia Reviving Elusive ‘Nuke Trains' With 30 Yars ICBMs / Sputnik International
Russia finalized the project of a new Combat Railway Missile Complex (BZhRK) that will multiply its nuclear potential and counter the US Conventional Prompt Global Strike, RG.ru reported.

Every "Barguzin" train will be armed with six ICBMs RS-24 Yars (a land equivalent of the submarine-launched Bulava).

The missiles are brought into firing position within minutes. Their engagement range is 10,000 kilometers and precision is 100 meters around the target. The warheads can maneuver to penetrate any existing missile defense system.
The trains will be protected with a cutting-edge stealth technology, electronic warfare systems and counterterrorism measures.

Five "Barguzin" regiments are expected to enter Russia's SMF by 2020.

 

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TASS: Russia - Russia successfully test-launches defense shield anti-missile — ministry
June 09, 13:07 UTC+3
The launch was aimed at confirming the performance characteristics of missile defense shield anti-missiles operational in the Aerospace Defense Forces

MOSCOW, June 9. /TASS/. Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces have successfully test-launched a short-range anti-missile of the country’s missile defense shield, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The launch was aimed at confirming the performance characteristics of missile defense shield anti-missiles operational in the Aerospace Defense Forces," the ministry said.

Aerospace Defense Forces Deputy Commander, Lieu.Gen. Sergey Lobov who arrived at the firing range to control the launch preparations and the test-launch said that "during the tests that were held, an anti-missile of the missile defense shield successfully accomplished its task and destroyed a simulated target at the designated time."

The launch was carried out by a joint crew of the Sary-Shagan test site, Aerospace Defense Force and manufacturer’s specialists at 11:32 Moscow time, the Defense Ministry said.

According to the Defense Ministry, Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces have major technical and technological potential in the field of developing and applying aerospace defence means.

"Within the framework of developing and perfecting Russian missile defense components the system’s information means undergo upgrade. Simultaneously, research and development work is in progress to create new generation anti-missile weapons, which would allow for considerably expanding the Aerospace Defense Forces' combat capabilities," the ministry’s press-service said.

The ministry also said that the Russian aerospace defense system ensured guaranteed protection from strategic missiles of a new generation with post-boost vehicles and a large number of warheads, the newest penetration means, including chaff containers, active jamming stations and heavy and light deception targets of different classes.

 

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Last Updated: Thursday, June 11, 2015 - 21:31
Russia threatens consequences if US deploys missiles in Europe | Zee News


Moscow: Russia on Thursday warned the United States of consequences if it moves to deploy land-based missiles in Europe in contravention of a key Cold-War era arms control treaty.


"It is clear that such actions would mean complete destruction by the American side of the regime of the treaty with all its attendant consequences," the Russian foreign ministry said, referring to the 1987 INF treaty on intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles.

"We urge the United States to ensure the full implementation of the INF, (and) not to threaten the feasibility of this document," the ministry said in a statement.

The two countries have accused each other of violating the treaty signed by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987.

US defence officials said last week Washington is considering a range of moves to counter Russia's alleged violation of the treaty, including bolstering missile defences or deploying land-based missiles in Europe.

The INF agreement eliminated nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with intermediate range of 500-5,500 kilometres (300-3,400 miles).

The treaty marked the first time the superpowers had agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals.

A US State Department report last week said Russia in 2014 "continued to be in violation of its obligations under the INF Treaty not to possess, produce, or flight-test a ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) with a range capability of 500 kilometres to 5,500 kilometres, or to possess or produce launchers of such missiles."

The Russian foreign ministry said that statement was not "consistent with reality", challenging the United States to provide firm evidence.

Moscow for its part took issue with Washington's plans to deploy in Poland and Romania systems capable of launching Tomahawk cruise missiles.

"Such deployment would directly contravene the INF treaty," the foreign ministry said.

Ties between Russia and the United States sank to their post-Cold War lows after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine last year and supported Russian-speaking rebels fighting Kiev government forces.

AFP