Russian Navy to Get New Missile Systems Next Year

MOSCOW, September 23 (RIA Novosti)

The Russian navy will receive new advanced surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems next year, a defense industry executive said Monday.

Shtil vertical-launch modular air-defense systems are designed for a series of six Project 11356 frigates now under construction, and can effectively engage any existing and future combat aircraft, Maxim Kuzyuk, general director of the Aviatsionnoye Oborudovaniye (Aircraft Equipment) holding, told RIA Novosti.

One of the system’s principal features is its high firing rate: It fires missiles every two seconds, he said, adding that each module consists of 12 missiles.

“We are planning to deliver six Shtil SAM complexes for [Project 11356] ships before 2016,” Kuzyuk said.