The test took place in light of Washington’s plans to deploy components of its air defenses in Eastern Europe. The first site was recently inaugurated at the Deveselu base, in Romania. The second site is now being installed in Poland.
The successful test of the Russian short-range antimissile proves that Russian R&D in the field of aerospace defense complies with global trends in neutralizing missile threats, military expert Igor Korotchenko said.
"Unites States’ military and technical conceptions pose an increasing threat for Russia. They presume a first-strike disarming attack against a potential enemy. In this situation, the increased capabilities of Russian antimissiles would improve the air defense of Moscow and the central part of the country. Russia’s air defenses are capable of repelling existing and future missile threats," Korotchenko said.
"The S-500 will allow for intercepting targets, including enemy warheads in near space. It will also provide the possibility of direct kinetic interception which means destroying a target with a direct antimissile hit," Korotchenko pointed out.
According to the expert, the potential of Russian air defenses proves that Russia will further maintain its leading position in air defense.
The newly-tested antimissile will protect areas in accordance with the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty between the US and Russia. However, Washington has violated the agreement so the system may be deployed to other locations, including in the sea, Konstantin Sivkov, president of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, said.
"This test is a positive step. This system will protect the area according to the agreement between Russia and the US. Russia has never violated the treaty, unlike the US. Currently, the systems are planned to be deployed in the agreed areas. But the situation may change," Sivkov said.
He added that the system may also be deployed on warships, like the US-made Aegis system. However, this will require the development of new radio-radar components.