YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK. May 16 (Interfax) - S-300V4 long-range air defense missile systems have practiced deterring an airstrike on the Kuril Islands, the Russian Eastern Military District's press service said on Tuesday.
"S-300V4 systems of the Eastern Military District stationed on the Kuril Islands have held a scheduled air defense exercise," the press service said.
On-duty air defense units were notified about "simulated trespassing of the Russian airspace by a group of aircraft," the press service said. S-300V4 systems tracked down, identified and locked targets, performed simulated (electronic) launches at several dozen airborne targets, successfully "destroying" them, it said.
The crews also trained data exchange within the district air defense system, the press service said.
S-300V4 is one of Russia's most powerful air defense systems. The systems were deployed at the Eastern Military District's air defense missile formation in the Far East in 2020, it said.
According to official information, tracked S-300V4 systems are operated by the Ground Forces air defense units. The Russian Defense Ministry defines the system as the core non-strategic missile defense of group of forces. It can hit air targets at the range of over 350 kilometers and altitudes exceeding 30 kilometers.
The ministry said on December 1, 2020, that S-300V4 systems made by Almaz-Antey had been put on combat duty on the Kuril Islands.
Japan claims four southern islands of the Kuril Ridge - Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai, referring to the 1855 Treaty of Commerce and Navigation. Moscow insists that the South Kuril Islands became part of the USSR as a result of WWII, and Russia's sovereignty over them is indisputable and complies with international law.