The Russian Defense Ministry has resumed large-scale procurements of modernized S-300V surface-to-air missile systems, the manufacturer said on Saturday, April 28, 2012.

“The State Defense Order through 2020 provides for significant volumes of procurement of modernized S-300V air defense systems,” Almaz-Antei’s general director Vladislav Menshchikov said.

The S-300V 9K81 (NATO code Sa-12 Gladiator/Giant) is a Russian-made air defense missile system mounted on tracked armoured vehicle. The S-300V is designed and manufactured by the Russian Defence Company Antey. The V suffix is used for Voyska (Ground forces).

Almaz-Antei’s former design bureau chief Igor Ashurbeili previously said S-300 production for the needs of the Russian military had stopped and that there were only export contracts.

However, in early March the Defense Ministry signed a three-year deal with Almaz-Antei for delivery of S-300V4 air defense missile systems.

The S-300 system is a family of long-range air defense missile systems capable of engaging all types of airborne targets including UAVs, helicopters and planes, as well as ballistic and cruise missiles.

Almaz-Antei said in early April it would build a new air defense systems plant in the Nizhny Novgorod region by 2015.

The company manufactures S-300 and S-400 Triumph surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems among other products.