Almaz-Antei To Unveil New Air Defense System At MAKS 2013

Almaz-Antei corporation will showcase for the first time its newest S-350E Vityaz mid-range air defense system at the upcoming MAKS-2013 air show near Moscow.

The Vityaz, which is expected to replace the outdated S-300 systems, is superior to similar foreign models, according to the company statement.

The system has been in the works since 2007 and features advanced all-aspect phased array radar, a new mobile command post and a launcher carrying 12 vertical-launch missiles, which will use a variant of the 9M96 active radar homing missile, the company said in a statement to RIA Novosti.

Almaz-Antey plans to hand over the system to the Russian Defense Ministry for testing before the end of 2013 and start deliveries to the Russian military next year.

The Vityaz will complement the Morfey, the S-400 and the S-500 air defense systems in the future aerospace defense network to engage targets at ranges from five to 400 kilometers, and at altitudes from five meters to near space.