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Russia to live-fire S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems during drills in April

As part of the preparations for the exercise, the anti-aircraft gunners will be required to accomplish assignments within specified time limits in the basic disciplines of missile firing, technical, tactical and special training

MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. The combat teams of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems will hold a live-fire exercise at the Ashuluk training range in the southern Astrakhan Region in April, the press office of the Western Military District reported on Tuesday.

"As part of the third stage of tactical drills at the Ashuluk state firing range (the Astrakhan Region) in April, the combat teams of an anti-aircraft missile regiment will live-fire surface-to-air missiles against the targets simulating technical characteristics of modern and future air attack weapons of a probable enemy," the press office said in a statement.

The combat teams of S-400 air defense systems based in the town of Gatchina in the northwestern Leningrad Region have started preparations for the drills. During the first stage of the two-week preparations, the anti-aircraft gunners will be required to accomplish assignments within specified time limits in the basic disciplines of missile firing, technical, tactical and special training.

After that, they will switch to theoretical and practical training for the firing exercise in specialized classrooms and directly on the missile system and at the system’s command post.

"At the concluding stage of the preparations, the personnel will have to be cleared for independent operations, which includes accomplishing combat training assignments within required time limits, passing theoretical tests of the knowledge of firing guidelines and rules and conducting a notional air defense battle as a combat team," the statement runs.

The S-400 ‘Triumf’ is the most advanced long-range air defense missile system that went into service in Russia in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range weapons, and can also be used against ground installations. The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 35 km.