Article Posted on : - Feb 04, 2014

An unrelated file photo

ASTANA (BNS): Russia will donate former Soviet nation Kazakhstan with S-300 air defence systems, a news report said.

Five battalions of S-300PS systems would be supplied from the arsenals of the Russian army, a Ria Novosti report quoting Deputy Defence Minister, Anatoly Antonov, said.

Russia has signed an agreement with Kazakhstan last year to set up an integrated regional air defence network.

The S-300PS systems will improve protection of Kazakhstan's airspace as well as strengthen the air defence network of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization military alliance, Antonov, who was part of a military delegation travelling to the Central Asian state, was quoted as saying.

According to the report, the S-300PS features 5V55R missiles with an engagement range of up to 90 kilometres. It is designed to lock in on a target after launch using an active detection system that steers the missile directly at the target.

Kazakhstan reportedly has several S-300 systems deployed, mainly around the capital, Astana, it added.