TVER. March 1 (Interfax) - The Zhukov Air and Space Academy will start training combat crews fr the new air defense missile system S-500 which is due to enter service in the Russian Armed Forces in the foreseeable future.
"The academy is planning to train combat crews for the S-500 system after it has entered service in the Russian army," an Aerospace Forces representative told journalists on Thursday.
Lieut. Gen. Vladimir Lyaporov, the head of the academy, told reporters that the academy has two training centers: one in the Leningrad region, for training air defense missile troops, and the second in Vladimir, for radio-technical troops.
Both centers "train combat crews after the delivery of new systems, new types of weapon and military hardware to air defense missile regiments and radio-technical regiments," Lyaporov said.
On March 1 the academy turns 62. It trains officers under a two-year program for commanders of air defense regiments, chiefs of staff and deputy regiment commanders. Cadets graduate in 13 specialties. They also complete firing training in Gatchina.
The S-500 Prometey (Prometheus) next-generation air defense missile system will begin entering service in the Russian Armed Forces in 12-18 months' time, retired Lieut. Gen. Aitech Bizhev, a Russian expert on air defense, said last October.