The combat teams of Russian S-400, S-300 and Pantsyr-S1 air defense systems destroyed eight targets simulating a notional enemy’s cruise and tactical missiles and aircraft at the Ashuluk practice range in the Astrakhan Region in south Russia, Deputy Commander of Russia’s Aerospace Force Lieutenant-General Yuri Grekhov said on Wednesday.

The drills were held as part of the Russia-Belarus air power conference that came to an end on Wednesday. A delegation of the Belarusian Defense Ministry participated in the conference on behalf of Belarus. The drills involved 400 Russian troops and over 40 pieces of military hardware, including S-400 Triumf and S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, and also Pantsyr-S1 air defense missile/gun complexes, Grekhov specified.

"The systems successfully coped with the accomplished missions and the combat teams carried out their assignment excellently. Eight air targets were destroyed during the exercise to repel the strike and conduct air defense missions. The targets simulated tactical missiles, aerodynamic targets, cruise missiles and ballistic targets," Grekhov said.

Deputy Commander of Russia’s Aerospace Force Lieutenant-General Sergei Dronov said that the air power conference with the participation of the military from Belarus was an annual event and had been held in a planned manner. He added that aircraft of the Air Force and Air Defense Army of Russia’s Southern Military District had delivered strikes against ground targets at the Ashuluk range during the two-day conference.

The S-400 Triumf is the most advanced long-range air defense missile system that went into service in Russia in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles, and can also be used against ground objectives.

The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km.

The S-300 is a surface-to-air missile system capable of destroying modern and cutting-edge aircraft, including planes using stealth technology, as well as medium-range ballistic missiles, tactical and cruise missiles, and also radar surveillance and guidance aircraft, reconnaissance and strike complexes.

The Pantsyr-S1 is a ground-based self-propelled surface-to-air missile/gun system designed to shield military and civilian facilities, including long-range air defense systems, from all modern and future air attack weapons.