YEKATERINBURG. Nov 14 (Interfax) - Crews of S-300 air defense missile systems of the Russian Central Military District will go on combat duty to shield the 201st Russian Military Base in Tajikistan on December 1, the Central Military District's press service said in a statement.
"A battalion set of S-300PS air defense missile systems entered operational service with the 201st Russian Military Base in October. The equipment was delivered to the republic by rail from the Central Military District's depot stationed in the Volga region," the statement said.
"The air defense battalion armed with S-300PS systems will go on experimental combat duty on December 1. At present, the launch site is being equipped for deploying the hardware, and this work should be completed by the end of November," the statement quoted Central Military District Commander Col. Gen. Alexander Lapin as saying.
The battalion's primary task will be to defend the 201st Military Base from aerial attacks and ensure air defense of the Central Asian collective security region, it said.
The battalion comprises about 30 items of hardware, including a command center, launchers, a target illumination and guidance radar, and support vehicles.