Russia Successful New Missile Defense System Tests, Protects From Air And Space Attacks

Launching a new Russian missile interceptor at the Sary Shagan military facility. (Source: Russian Ministry of Defense)

JAKARTA - Russia successfully launched a new missile defense system at the Sary Shagan firing ground in neighboring Kazakhstan, the country's Ministry of Defense announced Friday.

"The anti-missile defense system in the service of the Aerospace Forces is designed to protect against air and space attacks," the ministry said in a statement, without mentioning the system being tested.

"The new missile defense system, after a series of tests, confirmed the inherent characteristics and the combat crew managed to complete the task, achieving a conditional target with specified accuracy," said Major General Sergei Grabchuk, head of the Russian Aerospace Forces' anti-missile defense unit.

The test is the latest in a series of test launches as Russia seeks to improve missile defense systems around its capital, Moscow.

In July 2020, it was announced that the Russian army would deploy a next-generation hypersonic S-500 missile defense system to protect Moscow.

Meanwhile, following months of setbacks for Russia's military in its offensive in Ukraine, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday spoke of supporting the use of next-generation weapons in combat.

Minister Shoigu said a new missile system would be deployed in five major units of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces.

"We will discuss a draft list of main construction sites for next year. Currently, the construction of infrastructure facilities is underway in five Strategic Missile Troops formations to deploy new missile systems," he explained, citing TASS.

The work continues to build a multi-service testing ground for the Aerospace Forces in the Krasnoyarsk Region in Eastern Siberia.

Coastal energy infrastructure facilities in residential sites of the naval bases Gadzhiyevo and Kaspiysk have been operated for the Russian Navy.

He said all the tasks set by Russian President Vladimir Putin to restore infrastructure in the country's new territory were met ahead of schedule.

"In compiling a list of major construction projects for 2023, special attention will be paid to construction for the benefit of the country's strategic nuclear power," the defense chief stressed.

"It is important to maintain a balanced approach to construction planning in budget allocations. It is important to ensure that infrastructure facilities are operated along with the delivery of sophisticated weapons and military hardware to troops," Shoigu concluded.