The Russian S-400 air defense systems and the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft gun systems will for the first time take part in exercises in a foreign country - in Serbia. This was reported in the Ministry of Defense of Russia.

“The Russian air defense units with the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems and the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and cannon systems were deployed by Russian military transport aircraft to the territory of Serbia to participate in the second stage of the joint Russian-Serbian air defense exercises“ Slavic Shield - 2019 ", The agency said in a statement.

It is reported that in the S-400 are presented as part of the division, and the "Shell-S" - batteries. They are deployed at the Bataynitsa airbase and will be included in the joint Russian-Serbian air defense group.

“During the exercise, the Russian and Serbian air defense units will jointly carry out the tasks of detecting, tracking, classifying and destroying the entire spectrum of aerial targets of a conditional enemy in the process of carrying out joint combat duty on air defense,” the defense department emphasized.

The Ministry of Defense noted that the Russian-Serbian air defense exercises "Slavic shield - 2019" are held for the first time. They consist of two stages, the first of which took place in the Astrakhan region of Russia in September. Maneuvers in Serbia are held from October 23 and will end on the 29th.

“During the exercise, issues of interaction and joint combat use of air defense units of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation and the air forces of the air defense of the Republic of Serbia are being worked out,” the Ministry of Defense said.

  • Self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and cannon system "Shell-C1
  • © Alexander Wilf / RIA News

Recall that these systems are one of the most advanced air defense systems. The S-400 is designed to destroy air targets at medium and long range, and the "Shell C1" is for short-range targets.

At the same time, it became known that Serbia ordered the “Shell C1” in its armed forces. This was announced by President Alexander Vuchich.

“The S-400 is in the country due to exercises. And tomorrow I’ll go directly to see the S-400. And “Shell-S” I’m going to watch on Saturday, we ordered it, ”he said.

The first stage of the Slavic shield - 2019

During the first stage, the Russian and Serbian units, acting together, repelled a land and air attack by a conditional enemy. According to the official publication of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation “Red Star”, the officers received intelligence information and, on the basis of it, began preparing for defense and destruction of enemy forces.

“According to the conditions of the training task, according to intelligence, a group of air defense assets of a conditional enemy made a march to the area of ​​combat positions. From the air they were covered by a link of fighters. To destroy the enemy group, a link of the Russian MiG-29SMT fighters rose into the sky. They started an air battle, during which they successfully destroyed the enemy’s aircraft, ”the publication says.

After the aircraft destroyed the enemy battery of the air defense system, the conditional enemy changed his tactics. According to the plan of the exercises, the enemy decided to concentrate on the destruction of the Russian air defense group and deliver a large-scale missile and air strike on it. It was at that moment that Russian-Serbian air defense calculations began to work out their tasks.

Units took up positions. Then the radar operators discovered all the targets, determined their appearance and reported to the command post. After that, the missiles and planes of the conditional enemy were destroyed. At the end of the first stage, the combat crew “Shell C1” also destroyed the enemy sabotage group and equipment.

  • The next stage of the exercises “Slavic shield - 2019”
  • © Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

In total, over 50 air targets — aircraft, cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles — were discovered and destroyed by the results of maneuvers. Russian-Serbian units carried out both electronic launches and combat - on air targets.

Assessing the first stage of the maneuvers, Major General Sergei Babakov, the head of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Russian Air Force, noted that it benefited both sides. He praised the quality of training of the Serbian military.

“The importance of this doctrine was that it allows us to expand the military and military-technical cooperation of the two friendly countries. In addition, we exchanged experience, useful information and, in general, received great benefit from the joint implementation of tasks. I want to emphasize the fact that the training of Serbian air defense specialists is at a high level, ”Red Star quotes him.

Brigadier General Thiosav Jankovic, who led the Serbian delegation, said he was counting on closer cooperation with the Russian military. He expressed the hope that in the future the Slavic Shield exercises will be even more ambitious.