Newsweek magazine reported that the Moscow Army received the latest anti-aircraft missile system and tested its ability to counter incoming aircraft, at a time when Russia and the United States are competing for advanced war capabilities.
The Russian armed forces introduced a new S-350 VTiaz missile-to-surface missile system into active service on Wednesday, delivered the system to the Air and Space Defense Academy in the Leningrad region and underwent successful training in "detecting and destroying an imaginary air enemy", according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The weapon was described as "designed to protect government, administrative, industrial and military facilities and concentrations of forces from enemy air strikes." It is also designed to defend against aircraft and missiles.
The American magazine stated that the S-350 joins a group of decades-old defense systems that include the S-200, the S-300, the S-400 and the S-500, which are still under development.
The manufacturer of the new weapon, Almaz Antie, said the weapon could operate on its own and as part of a multi-layered defense system. It can be supplied with up to 12 missiles simultaneously.
Newsweek noted that the latest addition to Russia's defense arsenal came as the Pentagon began developing missiles banned for more than 30 years under a bilateral agreement with Moscow.