Russia Sends Its New 'Ready-To-Fire' S-350 Defense System To Protect Air Base Near Ukraine

Kremlin has reportedly sent its new S-350 Vityaz ground-based air defense system to an airbase less than 40 miles from the Ukrainian border, a week after the disastrous setback at the Saki Air Base in southern Crimea.

The components of this medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system were seen in a new video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The video was shot to depict the operations of Su-25 aircraft at an unnamed airbase. Defense analysts believe this development hints that Russia is concerned that Ukraine might attack bases beyond its borders, reported The Drive.

According to defense analyst Guy Plopsky, the elements of the system included a 50N6A fire-control radar, 96L6-TsP acquisition radar and two missile launchers, which could be 50P6 transporter-erector-launcher (TELs) and/or a very similar 50P6T launcher/loader vehicle.

The video seems to be shot at the Taganrog Air Base in Rostov Oblast in Russia. The base, also known as Taganrog Tsentralnyi, is reportedly home to over 20 Il-76MD Candid transport aircraft of the 708th Military Transport Aviation Regiment.

The Taganrog base had been hosting ground-based air defense components for some time, but this is possibly the first time that an S-350 has been spotted there. The system seen in the video is clearly new and is in an upright and ready-to-fire position.

The fact that the latest Google Earth image from the base (dated February 2022) shows no hint of an S-350 launcher there hints that the system is new.

According to Stefan Büttner, an expert in Russian airbase infrastructure, the satellite imagery from Sentinel Hub on Aug. 1 "clearly shows tracks leading to one of the launchers for the first time. The position can be determined by the video and matches the tracks on Sentinel Hub." The S-350 could actually have been at the base as early as mid-April, based on evidence he has seen of vehicle movements, Büttner told The Drive.

He also added that the deployment of air defense systems at Taganrog Tsentralny could be related to the requirement for reinforced air defenses over southern and eastern Ukraine, where the most intense fighting is currently taking place. These are also areas where Ukrainian Air Force aircraft are known to operate, although it's unclear how close to the Russian border they fly.

Considering the range of missiles used by the S-350's, it is clear that they would not extend far beyond the border and into the far southeast corner of Ukraine's territory. Hence, it is clear that the system has been put up there as a possible defense against a Ukrainian attack on the base itself.

Protecting the base assumes significance in the light of the attack on the Saki air base, which saw Russia losing over 10 aircraft. There were previous unconfirmed reports that the Taganrog itself may have come under attack in March. A video had then gone viral showing what appeared to be an Il-76 transport burning on the ground there.

The S-350 air defense system, which entered service in February 2020, can tackle enemy aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles and ballistic missile targets.