Russia's Top-Notch S-400 Will Protect Crimea From NATO's 'Air Hooligans'

The S-400 complex will become a welcome addition to Crimea's multilayered air defense structure that contains among over things the S-300 (NATO reporting name SA-10 Grumble) long range surface-to-air missile system.

The S-400 will serve as a major deterrent for "air hooligans from NATO's air force," Balbek told RIA Novosti. "The sheer fact that the most advanced air defense missile system will be installed on [the peninsula] will keep all NATO air forces based in the Black Sea on the edge of their seats."

Balbek also mentioned that sending enemy aircraft to violate Crimean airspace would be essentially a suicide mission. "Without doubt, NATO has brave pilots, but there are no suicide pilots among them."

In service since 2007, the S-400 Triumf (NATO codename SA-21 Growler) is an anti-aircraft and anti-missile system capable of intercepting all types of modern air weaponry, including fifth-generation warplanes, as well as ballistic and cruise missiles at a maximum range of nearly 250 miles.

Russia's decision to transport a S-400 regiment to Crimea was unveiled on Friday. Lt. Col. Eugene Oleynikov, deputy commander of the 18th anti-aircraft missile regiment of the 31st Air Defense Division, said that the deployment will take place right after preliminary live fire exercises are over.

The deployment is part of a major rearmament plan that has been in place since Crimea joined Russia following the March 2014 referendum, First deputy chairman of the defense and security committee in the Federation Council of Russia Franz Klintsevich said.

"As soon as Crimea became part of Russia, a decision was made to rearm and enhance military capabilities of the armed forces assigned to the Black Sea Fleet," he explained. "This process is going as planned."

 

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