Russia halts production of S-300 air defense systemAugust 15, 2011 - 13:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia's new mid-range Vityaz air defense system should replace the outdated S-300 system by 2014, former chief designer of Almaz-Antei corporation Igor Ashurbeili said. "Vityaz should be ready to enter service in 2013-2014," Ashurbeili told RIA Novosti. "Only the insufficient funding of the testing of a new missile for this system could cause a delay." The Vityaz is expected to replace the outdated S-300PS systems, whose service life is coming to an end in the next two years. The new system will have a more advanced radar and a launcher with 16 missiles compared to only four on the S-300. The Vityaz will complement the Morfey, the S-400 and the S-500 air defense systems in the future aerospace defense network to engage targets at ranges from five to 400 kilometers, and at altitudes from five meters to near space. Ashurbeili said that the timely introduction of the Vityaz is crucial to Russia's aerospace defense network as the country will have only a few dozen battalions of modernized S-300PM systems to fill the mid-range gap after the S-300PS are taken from combat duty. According to unconfirmed data, two battalions in Armenia are equipped with S-300. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ucom Celebrates Telecommunication Day May 17 commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865. Armenian, Azerbaijani heads of parliament meet in Switzerland President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Border residents overnight on highway to protest Armenia’s Residents of Kirants continue to express outrage over the government’s decision to cede land to Azerbaijan. Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. |