MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/. The range of the Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile systems is 70 km - by 25 km more than of its predecessor, and by a number of parameters the new system has surpassed the long-range S-300 air defense missile system, a Russian Defense Ministry source told TASS on Wednesday.

"The results of the state tests indicate that by a number of its characteristics the [Buk-3M] system has fully complied with the technical requirements and equalled the S-300, and by some of the parameters has even surpassed this system," the source said.

"First of all, the Buk-3M target-destruction probability has reached 0.9999, which the S-300 system does not have," the source said. "This means that the system is surely capable of destroying a target with one missile."

In addition, according to the source, Buk-M3 has got the was the same maximum height of fire - 35 km. "The maximum destruction range of the system has been increased by 25 km, compared to its predecessor and reached 70 km. The lower range of the last two characteristics has not changed, it meets the requirements," the source added.

A source in the Defense Ministry told TASS previously that the Buk-M3 system would be made operational before the end of 2015, and starting from 2016 its delivery to the troops will be launched. The new complex is expected to continue the line of the Buk air defence systems. The previous modification - Buk-M2, is currently regarded as one of the most efficient in its class. Its development was completed in 1988, however, its serial production was launched only 15 years later.