Russian armed forces to receive two S-400 regiments by year-end

Two more regiments of S-400 anti- aircraft systems will be delivered to the Russian armed forces by the end of 2013, its producer said Wednesday. According to the Almaz-Antei Corporation's director Vladislav Menshchikov, the weaponry has already been ready for delivery to the Army. "Two regiments of these air defense missile systems will be commissioned by the end of 2013," Menshchikov told reporters. Russian armed forces enjoy priority in shipments of the S-400, and the foreign customers take keen interest in them too, he said. S-400 is capable of intercepting aircraft at a range of 250 km and non-strategic ballistic missiles at 60 km, Menshchikov said. The system is designed to shoot down up to 36 air targets and 72 incoming missiles at once. The S-400 can be switched to a combat-ready mode in five minutes.