Russia to deploy new S-400 missile systems around Moscow

debkafile‘s military sources report: The SA-400 Triumf, (codenamed SA-21 Growler), a battalion of which will be positioned around Moscow on Aug. 6, is the most advanced air defense system in the world.
The S-400 is capable of intercepting and destroying stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles with a 3,500-km range, moving at 4.8 km per second at a distance of up to 400 kilometers (250 miles). This is twice the range of the U.S. MIM-104 Patriot, and 2.5 times that of the S-300PMU-2. It is an upgrade of the S-300. The battalion consists of at least eight launchers, 32 missiles and a mobile command post.
debkafile adds: Successful live firing tests of the S-400 were conducted as recently as July 12-13. The haste with which these missiles are being stationed around the Russian capital shows President Vladimir Putin going all-out to prove Russia is ahead in the race for missile superiority. He is intent on beating President Bush to the draw before the US missile shield is in place in Poland and the Czech Republic.