Moscow air defense to be reinforced with one more regiment

Air defense over Moscow region will be reinforced with one more S-400 regiment, Russia's Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

 In addition to two already deployed regiments, the third is to be deployed around the capital in December, the ministry's spokesman Dmitry Zenin told reporters.


 It will be reinforced with the battalion of the Pantsir-S short- range anti-aircraft complex designed to protect the existing air defense systems S-300 and S-400 themselves.


 Pantsir-S is a mobile gun-missile system carrying a radar, sensor, two 30-mm cannons and up to 12 remotely guided short-range missiles capable to destroy low-flying targets.


 Earlier this month, the producer of the S-400, Almaz-Antey company, said the weaponry has been ready for delivery to the army.


 S-400 is capable of intercepting aircraft at a range of 250 km and non-strategic ballistic missiles at 60 km. The system is designed to shoot down up to 36 air targets and 72 incoming missiles at once. The S-400 can be switched to a combat-ready mode in five minutes.