Moscow has launched a team of Space Defense Troops. The corps is a reply to the US and NATO’s constant push towards creating the European Missile Defense system with components stationed near the Russian border.
Space Defense Troops are a brand new combat arm aimed at providing Russia’s security in air and space.
The troops are made up of space, air and missile defense commands, as well as the Plesetsk spaceport near Arkhangelsk in northern Russia and Kura testing area in Kamchatka in the Far East.
In technical terms, they comprise space control systems, orbit groups control installations and missile alert systems. In addition, new radar stations have been put in operation. According to the commander of the Russian Space Defense Troops, Lieutenant-General Oleg Ostapenko, this raises their efficiency and significantly strengthens Russia’s missile defense.
From now on, more than 3,000 servicemen and civilian staff enter on duty on a daily basis.
On Tuesday, President Dmitry Medvedev ordered operational the newest Russian radar station, Voronezh-DM, which is located in Kaliningrad and protects from missile attacks and covers all Europe and Atlantic.
Another Voronezh-DM radar station located in near Irkutsk in Siberia is scheduled for launch in 2012.
Earlier, the Russian leader made a tough statement about lack of progress in talks on missile defense with American and European partners. He stressed that they have not so far provided any guarantees that the European anti-missile defense system in the making is not aimed at Russia.
http://en.rian.ru/news/20111201/169210478.html
Russian Information Agency Novosti
December 1, 2011
Russian Air Force to get 60 air defense systems in 2012
MOSCOW: The Russian Air Force is planning to acquire about 60 new and modernized air defense systems in 2012, Air Force spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said on Thursday.
“The new acquisitions include S-400 long-range air defense missile systems, Nebo-U radars and Pantsir-S1 short range missile/gun systems,” Drik said.
The Air Force will receive up to 10 Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers, about 10 Su-25SM Frogfoot attack fighters, and an unspecified number of Su-35S Flanker-E multirole fighters.
The Su-35S is Russia’s advanced “Generation 4++” fighter.
New acquisitions will also include over 20 attack helicopters, such as the Mi-28N Night Hunter and the Ka-52 Alligator, as well as “highly modernized” Mi-35 Hind helicopters.
The Air Force will also receive about 30 Mi-8 transport and five Mi-26T heavy lift helicopters.
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