The first duty shift of Russian aerospace defense forces (ADF) command center has come on duty on Thursday, RIA Novosti reports. It has been declared by official representative of ADF, Colonel Alexey Zolotukhin.

The new service arm has been formed in accordance with the ruling of the president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev. After activation of ADF in Russia the Space Forces cease to exist. This refers to a unified management system, which will allow completing all the further objectives of ADF. Among them are: warning, detection, elimination, suppression and target coverage.

"The first duty shift of ADF center has come on duty and accepted control of missile warning systems, antiballistic missile defense, air defense, space monitoring, launch and control of satellites, etc.", - said Zolotukhin.

The solemn ceremony has taken place at the territory of the command center, deployed in Zarya settlement, Moscow Region. The Commander of ADF, Lieutenant-General Oleg Ostapenko, and Commander in Chief of Russian air forces, Colonel-General Alexander Zelin, have congratulated the first duty shift of the new service arm.

More than 3 thousand service members and civil personnel will come on duty in the units and commands of ADF every day, the representative of MoD added.

The Space Command, air defense and antiballistic air defense command have been included in ADF along with Plesetsk cosmodrome. Aerospace Defense has been created on the basis of Space forces and operational-strategic Aerospace Defense Command.