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Russia Deploys New Air - Defense Missiles
August 6, 2007

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia on Monday deployed new air defense systems capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, and the air force chief said the weapon could be used to protect 2014 Winter Olympics in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Col.-Gen. Alexander Zelin said he already had made an official proposal to use the S-400 missile defense system to provide security for the games.

‘’The organizing committee will prepare the city for the Olympics, while we will prepare air-defense systems and ensure the security of the games,’’ Zelin was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

The S-400 is capable of hitting aerial targets at ranges of up to 250 miles and altitude of up to 99,000 feet, far exceeding its predecessor, the S-300, Russian news reports said. The first S-400 units — which each include a missile launcher, a radar and a control vehicle — were put on combat duty Monday near Moscow.

Zelin and other officials boasted of the new system’s ability to engage difficult targets, such as ballistic missiles’ warheads and stealth aircraft.

Asked whether the S-400 could also be used in a proposed joint missile defense system with European nations, Zelin said ‘’the issue should be considered in detail.’’

‘’If relevant directives and orders are received, we’ll take up this task and work on it,’’ Zelin was quoted as saying.

Russian military officials have proposed using the S-300 and the S-400 as part of a prospective joint European missile defense that Russia has discussed with NATO nations.

These discussions have not yielded any practical results, and prospects of a deal looked bleak amid Russia’s increasingly strained ties with the West.

Russia has strongly opposed U.S. plans to deploy missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic. President Vladimir Putin shrugged off U.S. claims that they are directed against potential missile threats from Iran and said they threatened Russia’s security.