Russia's S-300 air defence systems deployed at snap alert drills

Four regiments of S-300 air defense systems were deployed at the Ashuluk firing range in Southern Russia as part of another snap combat readiness check of the Russian armed forces, the Defense Ministry said. The regiments were airlifted on Thursday by military transport planes to designated drop zones where they will carry out a variety of missions simulating the defense of the Russian airspace from massive attacks by "enemy" missiles and aircraft. "The missions will be carried out in conditions of heavy electronic warfare to test the capabilities of the air defense units to the highest limit," the ministry said. A total of 8,700 personnel, 185 warplanes and 240 armored vehicles are involved in the three-day exercise, overseen by Col. Gen. Vladimir Zarudnitsky, the head of Russian General Staff's Main Operations Directorate, RIA Novosti reported. The surprise alert exercise, ordered by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, is part of a series of random checks of the Russian armed forces that began in February. The Defense Ministry said in February that random inspections will now be conducted on a regular basis to insure constant combat readiness of the armed forces.