ASHULUK RANGE (Astrakhan region), March 31. /TASS/. Combat crews of the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile defense systems that entered service in Russia’s Central Military District in March, will conduct tactical field firing exercise at the Telemba range (the Republic of Buryatia in Siberia) this September, Deputy Commander of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army of the Central Military District Andrei Shchemelev told TASS on Thursday.
"In September, the Central Military District plans a joint exercise at the Telemba range that will involve aviation and air defense means. Fighter aircraft from Perm and two anti-aircraft missile regiments stationed in Siberia will take part in the drills. Combat training launches of the S-400 missiles are planned. The anti-aircraft missile defense systems will be redeployed to Buryatia from the Novosibirsk region", Shchemelev said.
On March 1, the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile defense systems were put on combat duty in the Novosibirsk region. They replaced the S-300 TP missile systems. "The September drills will focus on the defense of strategically important facilities," Shchemelev said.
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"The district’s command has changed the combat training plans, abandoning single exercises in favor of bilateral exercises. The commanders will drill the fulfilment of combat tasks, acting against each other, competing in skills, using the cutting edge reconnaissance, surveillance, communications, electronic warfare equipment and other weapons supplied under the state defense order," Commander of the Central Military District Vladimir Zarudnitsky said previously.
S-400 Triumph (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) is Russia’s newest long-range anti-aircraft missile system that went into service in 2007 and is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles. The systems can also be used against ground objectives and can reportedly carry three different types of missiles. The S-400 range is 400 km. China has become the first international customer of Russia’s most advanced medium-and long-range antiaircraft missile system.