MOSCOW. Feb 5 (Interfax) - Electronic launches of Bal and Bastion coastal missile systems have been performed in an exercise practicing defense of coastal facilities and bases of the Russian Northern Fleet, the fleet's press service said on Wednesday.
"According to the exercise scenario, the mock enemy was preparing for a missile strike on coastal infrastructure of the Northern Fleet on the Kola Peninsula. Bal and Bastion coastal missile battalions were tasked with striking the mock enemy's ships and deployed from their base to a training position area," it said.
The missile systems were deployed on the Barents Sea coast, prepared for engagement, and performed electronic launches at targets about 300 kilometers away, the press service said.
According to official information, Bastion (developed by Tactical Missiles Corporation's NPO Mashinostroyenia) protects coastlines of over 600 kilometers. The system has two configurations, road-mobile Bastion-P and silo-based Bastion-S. It is armed with Oniks supersonic homing anti-ship missiles. The ammunition load is up to 36 Oniks cruise missiles.
According to official information, Bal is highly mobile and capable of rapid redeployment and preparation to engage. The system operates on a top distance of 120 kilometers any time of the day in any weather. Launchers can be placed in covered positions up to ten kilometers away from the shore.