Russia Tests Surveillance Station for Deployment on Portable Air Defense Systems

The Russian Defense Ministry is testing a new compact air surveillance station with a target detection function for possible deployment on portable air defense systems, Russian newspaper Izvestia reported on Tuesday, citing a source in the ministry familiar with the situation.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — If tests prove the station to be compatible with portable air defense systems, the experts could proceed with creating a version for anti-tank missile systems.

"We are considering the possibility of using the new air surveillance station as part of portable air defense systems. The first development stage is set to be completed soon," the source told the Izvestia newspaper.

The surveillance station was developed by the Russian Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies research center and will allow artillery personnel to direct fire remotely, according to the media report.

"[The station] should recognize a target independently and, having analyzed the image, location, speed and thermal signal, conclude whether it is a helicopter, a drone or a plane," the source told the newspaper.