YEKATERINBURG. May 13 (Interfax) - Russia's 201st Military Base in Tajikistan has held an air defense exercise with simulated missile launches, the Russian Central Military District's press service said on Monday.
"A battalion of S-300PS air defense missile systems was put on alert during the check. The on-duty shifts were reinforced and the systems were prepared for engagement. The crews detected targets simulating mock enemy airborne weapons, acquired and locked on to the targets, and performed electronic missile launches," the press service said.
They also trained at reloading S-300PS systems, while the security and defense unit practiced repelling an attack by mock enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups at combat positions.
The 201st Military Base in Tajikistan is the largest Russian military facility outside of national territory. It is stationed in the cities of Dushanbe and Bokhtar and comprises motorized infantry, tank, artillery, reconnaissance, air defense, radiation, chemical and biological protection, and communication units.
The base's air defense was reinforced with long-range missile systems at the end of 2019. A battalion of S-300PS air defense missile systems, developed and made by Almaz-Antei, was put on combat duty. It is tasked with protecting facilities of the Russian formation from air attacks and providing air defense of the Central Asian collective security area.