Russia deploys S-400 air defense system in Crimea

Russian forces in Crimea are believed to possess the modern S-400 air defense system.

S-400 system. Photo: Sputnik.

"Russian troops in Crimea are equipped with the latest S-400 air defense system," RIA Novosti quoted a source as saying on July 29.

"The S-300 systems in Crimea will remain but the Russian military will not use them," another source said today.

Information about Russia's plans to deploy S-400s to Crimea emerged on July 15. According to Franz Klintsevich, first deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Council's security and defense committee, the deployment is part of a rearmament plan that began after Crimea held a referendum on joining Russia in March 2014.

The S-400 is capable of tracking 300 targets and simultaneously shooting down 36 of them. In particular, the S-400 is capable of shooting down strategic missiles with a range of up to 3,500 km, nearly 4 times that of the US Patriot system.

The S-400 is essentially a multi-range missile system. It can shoot down targets such as fighter jets at an altitude of 27 km or low-altitude targets, only 5-10 m above the ground. The S-400 integrates a multi-function anti-jamming radar, an automatic detection and aiming system, air defense missiles, launchers and a command and control center. It can fire 5 types of missiles to create a layered defense mechanism.

According to VNE