Russia deploys more Su-34 bombers, S-400 air defence regiments

Russia has deployed six Su-34 front-line bombers and two regiments equipped with S-400 Triumph air defence missile systems in the Southern Military District. "Six new warplanes of the Sukhoi Aviation Holding Company have arrived at the Morozovsk airbase (in Rostov region)," the district said Thursday in a press release. As of 2013, the district has received a total of more than 20 new or modernized combat and cargo planes. Besides, two regiments equipped with S-400 Triumph air defense missile systems have been deployed in Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan region in the same district this year. The S-400 system, which NATO calls SA-21 Growler, is capable of destroying airborne targets at a range of 400 km and tactical ballistic missiles at 60 km. It can be switched to a combat-ready mode in five minutes.