MOSCOW, March 12 (RIA Novosti)
Russia's Defense Ministry has signed a three-year deal with air-defense missile systems manufacturer Almaz-Antei for delivery of S-300V4 (SA-12 Giant/Gladiator) air defense missile systems, the ministry said on Monday.
The deal was signed by Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and Almaz-Antei director Vladislav Menshchikov.
"In accordance with the contract, three battalions of S-300V4s will be delivered and put in service in Russia's southern military district, the Ministry said.
The S-300 system is a family of long-range air defense missile systems capable of engaging all types of airborne threats including UAVs, helicopters and planes, and ballistic and cruise missiles. The S-300 system is widely acknowledged as one of the most capable systems of its type in the world.
The S-300V4 is the latest modernized variant of the S-300V and VM systems and has higher performance thanks to the use of uspecified upgraded elements.
Independent think-tank Air Power Australia claims the S-300V4 upgrade will be designated by NATO as the SA-23 system.
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