"The system will undoubtedly inherit the best features of the S-300 and S-400 systems, but will be designed using advanced technology," Army General Vladimir Mikhailov said.
The new missile system will combine elements of air, missile and space defenses, and will be developed by the Almaz-Antei air defense consortium.
Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, who has been charged with supervising the country's defense industry, said earlier that priority should now be given to the development of a fifth-generation air-defense system capable of staving off commensurate threats.
"It must be an integrated system combining weapons, information and fire control elements," he said, addressing the participants of a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission.
Almaz-Antei, one of Russia's largest defense-industry holdings, specializes in the development of air defense missile systems and is famous for its S-300, S-400, Pechora-2A, Buk-M1 and Tor-M1 ground-to-air missile systems.
The S-300 (SA-10 Grumble) anti-aircraft missile system was designed to protect military and industrial facilities from massive air strikes.
A missile launched from the system can travel at a speed of 2,000 meters (6,000 feet) per second, and is capable of hitting a target at a distance of 150 kilometers (93 miles), flying at an altitude of up to 30 kilometers (19 miles) and at a speed of up to 10,000 kilometers per hour (6,215 miles per hour).
According to Alexander Lemansky, chief designer at Almaz-Antei, the S-400 Triumf air defense complex is considerably superior to the S-300 system because of its effective firing range, firing capacity and other parameters.
The Air Force commander said Friday the first air defense regiment equipped with S-400 ground-to-air missile systems will be put on combat duty in the Moscow Region in July 2007.
Mikhailov reiterated that the Russian Air Force currently deployed more than 30 regiments equipped with S-300 missile complexes, which will be gradually replaced with S-400 systems.
