Russia Creates Joint Air Defense System With Syria

Russia has set up a unified air defense system in Syria with joint efforts by Russian and Syrian military experts, TASS reports.

"Today, a unified integrated air defense system has been set up in Syria. We have ensured the information and technical interlinkage of the Russian and Syrian air reconnaissance systems. All information on the situation in the air comes from Syrian radar stations to the control points of the Russian force grouping," Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces Major-General Sergey Meshcheryakov was quoted as saying during a round table dedicated to the Syrian experience at the Army-2017 International Military-Technical Forum.

The Russian air defense group in the Hmeymim airfield area includes a radio engineering battalion, a battery of the Pantsir-S air defense missile and gun systems and the S-400 air defense missile systems.

"These air defense missile systems are capable of destroying targets within a range of up to 400 kilometers at an altitude of up to 35 kilometers," Meshcheryakov added.