In next three years, Russian military will induct three regiments of its redoubtable S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system. In the same time period, Almaz-Antey will also deliver four sets of S-350 ‘Vityaz’ anti-aircraft missile system, informed Russian media.

Russian news agency TASS, quoting Almaz press statement, in a report said, “All the hardware will be handed over to the Russian Armed Forces no later than 2023.”

The S-400, developed by Russia’s Almaz Design Bureau, is currently one of the world’s most sought after weapon system.  Considered as the most capable air defence of the world, it can intercept all kinds of aerial targets including drones, aircraft and cruise missiles up to 400 km range. It fires various kinds of missiles for various ranges.

India and Russia signed the contract for five regiments of the S-400 system in 2018 for $5.4 billon. India is expected to receive first system in 2021 and the last one in 2025.

Based on the S-300PS, the S-350 Vityaz, armed with 9M96E/E2 missiles, with a top speed of around 5 mach, the S-350 can intercept any kind of aerial targets between 5 m to 30 km of heights. This makes it one of the most suitable anti-cruise missile systems. The maximum range of the system is 120 km.

The S-350 missile system consists of 1/2 50N6A multifunctional passively electronically scanned array radar systems which provide 360 coverage, 50K6A  command post, 50P6 launchers with 12 9M96E missiles. It can also fire 9M100 a short-range, IR-passive missile with a maximum range of 10 km.

The system is mounted on BAZ-6909 8x8 chassis.