ASHULUK, August 20. /ITAR-TASS/. First combat package of the S-500 antiaircraft and anti-ballistic missile system will shield Moscow City and the regions around it, traditionally referred to in this country as Central Russia, reporters were told Wednesday by the Commander of Air Defense and Anti-Missile Defense branch of Russia’s Aerospace Defense Troops, Major General Adrei Demin.

“I’m sure that after the development and testing the first package of the S-500 system will be entered on the tables of equipment of the branch of our troops shielding Moscow and Central Russia,” Gen Demin said after the trial tests held on the Ashuluk range in the southern Astrakhan region.

As it was reported earlier, deliveries of the S-500 packages to the Aerospace Troops are expected to begin in 2016.

Open military sources say the S-500 will be capable of tracking down and incapacitating simultaneously up to ten ballistic targets traveling at 7 kilometers per second and the warheads of hypersonic cruise missiles.

The S-500’s are supposed to have the characteristics highly superior to those of Russia’s S-400 Triumph missiles and their US competitor, the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 complex.