New Russian S-350E Almaz-Antey medium range air defense missile system at MAKS 2013 2708138

Reportedly, the main novelty from Almaz-Antey will be a promising anti-missile medium-range system S-350E, also known as Vityaz. According to the stated performance characteristics, it is superior to foreign counterparts and should replace a number of S-300 technological systems of obsolete Soviet-made modifications, as well as Buk anti-aircraft missile systems, partially. In June of this year, the system was demonstrated to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to the Obukhov factory in St. Petersburg.

The 50P6E TEL vertical launcher of the Vityaz ("Knight") in combination with a powerful circular view multi-function radar allows the system to efficiently repel attacks from any direction, which distinguishes it from its competitors with inclined launchers (including the U.S. air defense system Patriot). Owing to the upgraded design of the system and the use of advanced 9M96 missiles, the ammunition has increased dramatically: one launcher has 12 missiles instead of 4.

The key factor determining the effectiveness of the new system is its ability to simultaneously reflect attacks of different types of air threats from any direction, at all altitudes of flight, in all weather conditions, day and night and in difficult noise conditions. This is achieved through the use of a fundamentally new information tool - a multifunction radar. This feature is used in domestic air defense missile systems for the first time.

In addition, the S-350E has high mobility and survivability. It takes only five minutes to bring the system on alert.