Latest antiaircraft systems to be shown at MAKS-2003

The MAKS-2003 air show, opening in Zhukovski near Moscow on August 19, will showcase the latest automatic antiaircraft missile system Sosna and the antiaircraft artillery system Palma, a RIA Novosti correspondent quotes the Russian Conventional Arms Agency as saying.

"Sosna is intended for repelling aircraft and helicopter attacks, destroying cruise missiles, guided aerial bombs and drones, destroying light armored machines on the ground," said a spokesman of the agency.

To him, visitors and specialists coming to the air show will see also the automatic AAA system Palma. "It provides a dependable protection for airfields, ships and boats, military bases, radars, and industrial facilities against cruise missiles and is used to hit small ships and targets on the shore. The standard missile Sosna-R is used in both", said the spokesman for the agency.

The Maks-2003 will also show the Palma-SU optical electronic fire control system. It detects and tracks targets, ensures high-precision angles of elevation and control linkage of artillery pieces.

"This fire control system can be used together with the gun mounts AK-230, AK-306, AK-630 and others, including foreign", said the Conventional Arms Agency.