Putin: Russian army to put next gen S-500 air defense system into use in coming years

President Vladimir Putin says Russia needs strong army to maintain parity with NATO

Russia’s president said that Moscow’s newest S-500 air defense system will be introduced into the country’s armed forces in the years to come.

Additional units of earlier generations of S-family systems – 26 more S-400 and S-350s – will also be delivered to the Russian army, President Vladimir Putin told a meeting of the country’s military chiefs in the coastal city of Sochi.

“This is required by the general military and political situation, including the growing intensity of NATO aviation flights near Russia, and the appearance of alliance ships with guided-missile weapons in the waters of the Baltic and Black Seas,” said Putin, citing in particular a US ship in the Black Sea.