The sky above Moscow is defended weakly. Military experts say that the Russian capital is vulnerable against an air attack or a missile strike. Russia’s latest S-400 missile system will not be capable of improving the situation. The new upgraded missiles for the complex have not been designed yet.
The subject of Moscow’s air defense surfaced again at a news conference on June 16. Anatoly Kornukov, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, and Leonid Ivashov, the former chief of Russia’s Military Staff, believe that Moscow’s air defense system is outdated and therefore incapable of executing its goals. Mr. Ivashov believes that Russia needs to either make huge investments in the development of its air defense system or move the capital to the east of the country.
Pravda.Ru interviewed Alexander Khramchikhin, the deputy director of the Institute of Military and Political Analysis about the vulnerability of Moscow’s air defense.
“One may not say Russia’s air and missile defense systems are not good at all. However, it is necessary to take urgent measures indeed. The current condition of the air defense system can be described as 'poor' in comparison with that of the Soviet period. As for the idea to move the capital – it is an absurd one. Russia’s new center would have to be defended too and it would too be vulnerable against air raids and missile attacks,” the specialist said.
Konstantin Sivkov, the Vice President of the Academy of Geopolitical Analysis, was more comprehensive in his comments.
“The air defense system consists of the air surveillance system, the administration, the attack force and attack means. The latter include anti-aircraft complexes and interceptor jets.
“The air surveillance system is required to detect an attack from the enemy. Russia’s current system is unable to detect the danger in the sky if an object flies at the altitude below two or three kilometers. Therefore, it is quite possible to attack Russia inland.
“Russia’s radar stations in the Far North and in Siberia do not cover hundreds of kilometers of the country’s territory. We have the A-50 aircraft, which is an analogue of the US AWAKS, to conduct the airborne reconnaissance. However, we have only 15 such planes. Russia needs a lot more of them to control the sky.
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