Russia to deploy S-500 anti-missiles in 2 years

Russia will deploy its newest S-500anti-missile systems in response to the deployment of Western anti-missile shield in Europe, a senior military officer said Friday. "We'll be able to organize anti-missile defense ... This is our response to the U.S. anti-missile defense," said Kirill Makarov, deputy commander of Russia's airspace defense forces, in an interview with the state-run Russia-24 TV channel. The S-500 systems are designed to destroy enemy's aircraft, middle-range and strategic missiles. Makarov said that 10 S-500 systems will be put into service within two years. This is a more advanced version of the S-400 systems currently in service. On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would deploy three new regiments equipped with the S-400 surface-to-air missile systems next year, with more advanced radar stations to be launched. Currently, Russia has five S-400 regiments, two of which deployed around Moscow and the other three in the far eastern Primorye Territory, Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad and the Southern Military District, RIA Novosti news agency said. The sixth regiment will join the two near Moscow by the end of 2013, and Russia plans to deploy 28 S-400 regiments by 2020.