Russia’s Second Best Protected City

St. Petersburg is probably now Russia’s second best protected city in terms of air defense (as common sense would dictate).

Interfaks-AVN reported today that another regiment of the Western MD’s 2nd Air Defense Division in Leningrad oblast has completed training with the S-400 to include combat firings against Favorit targets (the 5V55 missile from the S-300P system).

S-400 deployments in the 2nd ADD

S-400 deployments in the 2nd ADD

The regiment, likely the 1489th SAM Regiment, has returned to its home base of Vaganovo ENE of StP. It’s supposed to begin combat duty in February 2020, according to Interfaks-AVN.

The 500th SAM Regiment at Gostilitsy WSW of StP got its S-400s in 2015. The 1488th at Zelenogorsk NW of StP in 2016, the 1490th at Ulyanovka SE of StP probably in 2017, and the 1544th at Vladimirskiy Lager (but launch battalions split between Luga and Strugi Krasnyye) S of StP in 2018.

So not only is the 2nd ADD now all S-400, it’s also a five-regiment SAM division.

Here’s a handy reference to S-400 deployments (which have been difficult to keep up on). No wonder Mr. Putin wants to unplug the Internet and get rid of ru.wikipedia.org.

4 responses to “Russia’s Second Best Protected City

  1. Pingback: Russia’s Second Best Protected City - DFNS.net Policy

  2. Zelenogorsk is NW.

    Seems like they have also upgraded some S-300s up to the PM2 level, which is quite good because it’s the most modern system after the S-400. Do you know how many late model S-300s they have?

    Overall, a decent ground-based IADS re-emerging from the ashes, but I can’t help thinking its inadequate given the quantity and quality of American air power.

    A strong air defence starts in the air, after all. If Russia’s area was like a typical European country, they would have a crazy dense and formidable GBAD, but of course it isn’t.

    Of course, one can easily challenge me here and say that Russia isn’t or shouldn’t be focusing on fighting a war with the US.

  3. Yes, NW, thank you.

    It’s a good point, but don’t know the number of S-300PM2s. The S-400s are hard enough to follow.

    The Russians only started rebuilding a 1970s- and 1980s-vintage SAM network in 2010. It was a priority but so was rebuilding radar coverage and BMEWS on their borders at the same time. A lot to do.

    It all depends on the scenario, perhaps Moscow is planning to defend only against a degraded U.S. Air Force. And many Russian targets are, as before, a great distance from U.S. bases.

    We could debate whether Russia should or shouldn’t but regardless it is preparing for war with the U.S. and NATO.

  4. Fair enough. What kind of progress have they made with radar coverage? PRO/PVO systems, not the Voronozh systems.

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