Russia’ S-400 anti-aircraft missile system has drawn interest from both India and Turkey. Moscow has been keen to reveal its impressive capabilities and was able to rise to expectations with a near-perfect demonstration. Eight out of eight high-manoeuvrability target missiles were shot out of the sky an anti-aircraft units trains at the Kapustin Yar range in the southern Russian Astrakhan Region.
The video by the Russian Defense Ministry’s TV channel, Zvezda, captured the S-400 crews deploying to the site and swiftly preparing for operations.
The system would quickly identify the low-flying targets and then fire missiles at them.
The new weapon was considered battle-ready after five minutes, making it highly valuable in combat situations.
The S-400 has been in service in the Russian military since 2007, with 16 regiments now deployed across Russia as well as at the Khmeimim airbase in Syria.
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Nations have been willing to pay billions of dollars for the S-400 missile defence system for their own defence budgets.
Delivery of the systems to Turkey subsequently began earlier this year.
Turkey has signalled it is ready to sacrifice its participation in the F-35 program with the US in favour of the new Russian deal.
India has also faced threats of sanctions from America while in discussions with Russia over the purchase of the S-400.
On the world stage, Russia and Turkey have continued to show their military dominance in the Syrian area.
On Tuesday, Turkey and Russia agreed on a plan to push Syrian Kurdish fighters from a wide swath of territory south of Turkey’s border.
The agreement came as the deadline on a separate deal Turkey made with the US last week to pause its advance in preparation for a full ceasefire expired.
In exchange for the “pause” in the offensive, the US agreed to initially clear Syrian Kurdish fighters from a strip about 75 miles long and 20 miles deep along its border, as well as lifting existing sanctions on Turkey and refraining from imposing more.