New Delhi: Several countries are considering creating their national anti-aircraft defense systems using solely Russian weapons, a spokesman for Russia’s leading interceptor missile producer said on Tuesday.
Speaking at an arms show in New Delhi, Almaz-Antei spokesman Yury Baikov said countries have shown interest in Russia’s S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler), S-300 Favorit, and Tor and Buk missiles that could make up three sets of long-, short- and medium-range missiles needed for a national anti-aircraft system.
Baikov did not elaborate on the countries concerned.
The S-400 is believed to be able to destroy stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, and is effective at ranges up to 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) and speeds up to 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) per second.
“[Anti-aircraft] complexes produced by different countries are generally impossible to combine in a single defense system, and governments tend to buy weapons from one country,” Baikov said.
He said creating a national anti-aircraft defense system is a costly undertaking, and many countries prefer buying Russian complexes gradually.
