Posted on 05/13/2010 4:45:57 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Russia is lagging 25 to 30 years behind the United States in developing prospective air defense weapons because of a meltdown of its defense industries, a former Russian air force chief said Thursday.
Retired Gen. Anatoly Kornukov said Russia has only a reduced capability to protect itself from an enemy attack — a statement that contrasted sharply with the government's claim that the nation's military are getting stronger following a post-Soviet decline.
The Defense Ministry has boasted about developing new S-400 air defense missile systems and proudly displayed some of them in Sunday's massive Victory Day parade on Red Square.
But Kornukov said that the military now has only two such systems, each including a radar, several launchers and support vehicles, and it was supposed to have 15.
He said the Soviet-designed S-300s have strong capabilities but are approaching retirement. "Their lifetime can't be expanded indefinitely," he said at a news conference.
Another component of the nation's air defense, fighter jets, have been increasingly grounded for lack of engines and parts, Kornukov added.
"Regrettably, our air defense forces only have a limited capability to protect the nation's security," Kornukov said.
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These types of statements always seem to predate the CIA issuing another ‘oh my gosh’ statement, that just the opposite is true.
This sounds like “You can let your guard down now.”
Considering the best USAF air defences are based on the evaluation of S-300 USAF got in 1994 it is a pure BS.
Russians might be lagging centuries behind in every other thing including home plumbing and car building but their SAMs are best by far. Thousands of USAF, USN airmen got it straight since earlier ‘60s, hundreds of them KIA.
I can't think of anyone. Seems pretty unnecessary right now.
This is good information for Air Force Intelligence.
Exactly. The invasion is the easy part. However, just wait until winter.........
Russia’s air defense is not fit for purpose – military experts
http://rt.com/prime-time/2010-05-13/russian-air-defense-outdated.html?fullstor
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