The first regiment equipped with S-300PT missiles entered active service in 1979. Over time, successive upgrades gave rise to newer configurations within the same family, producing variants such as the S-300V and S-300VM Antey-2500, followed by the S-300PMU1 and S-300PMU2 Favorit. These evolutions reflect a continuous effort to expand range, precision, and multi-mensor capabilities across surface-to-air defense systems.
In July 2021, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced a decision to rearm the 41st Air Defense Division, with regiments stationed across Novosibirsk, Angarsk, the Irkutsk Region, Abakan, and Krasnoyarsk. Officials indicated that the modernization program would run through the end of 2022, aiming to bolster regional air defense readiness and operational resilience. (Attribution: Ministry of Defense statements and regional defense offices)
According to military officials, the Moscow air defense ring benefits from a layered approach that combines the most capable and contemporary systems. This layering includes the latest S-500 and S-400 deployments, complemented by a modernized S-300 variant. Close-range protection is provided by Pantsir-SM systems and other short-range weapons to ensure security for key facilities. (Attribution: Lieutenant General Aitech Bizhev, former Air Force Commander of the CIS Joint Air Defense System)
Lieutenant General Bizhev noted that rolling out the S-300PM2 complexes in Siberia should not be read as a sign that there are no important protected objects nearby. He highlighted two core advantages of the Favorit: first, a capable engagement range reaching up to about 200 kilometers for air weapons; second, the ability to monitor near space and intercept ballistic missiles. For context, the S-500 Prometheus has a theoretical reach of roughly 600 kilometers, while the S-400 Triumph can engage targets at up to 300 kilometers. (Attribution: Bizhev, socialbites.ca)
Officials argued that the region’s deliveries are fully justified. These are genuinely modern systems within the famed “three hundred” family, with the S-300PM-2 often described as among the most advanced iterations. They are intended to replace earlier S-300 models currently on duty in Siberia, according to remarks by Bizhev. (Attribution: Bizhev, socialbites.ca)
The higher command emphasized that the Favorit system performs effectively even under heavy radio interference from adversaries. It is capable of engaging any air target, including aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. (Attribution: Bizhev)
Past arrangements had seen coverage of this region from territory beyond its borders, notably from Kazakhstan, under a broader air defense framework. The long-standing Moscow-Nur-Sultan security pact was extended, but the decision to accelerate Russian air defense modernization in Eastern Siberia was viewed by some analysts as a prudent precaution. Analysts also pointed to broader defense cooperation timelines, including varying US-Kazakhstan arrangements that could influence regional security dynamics over coming years. (Attribution: Valery Volkov, military political scientist)
Alexander Drobyshevsky, a reserve colonel and military expert, recalls that the area was once part of a single air defense and missile defense system. He notes that in Soviet times this sector of the air border was safeguarded by the 14th separate air defense army, with a headquarters in Novosibirsk and missile divisions spread across the RSFSR and other union republics. The 56th Air Defense Corps in Semipalatinsk and the 7th Division in Alma-Ata were citied as examples of regional deployment tied to Kazakhstan, and interaction persisted after 1991. (Attribution: Drobyshevsky, socialbites.ca)
Looking ahead, Drobyshevsky assessed the area as a “rear” zone, implying that supply lines for S-500 and S-400 deployments would not be prioritized there in the near term. He noted that mass deliveries of S-500 Prometheus systems are expected to converge primarily on Moscow, Crimea, and Rostov-on-Don first. In Eastern Siberia, he believed, the existing lineup with Favorit would provide strong protection, even against certain high-speed threats not yet fielded by other armies. He also warned that Western partners will eventually develop comparable capabilities, underscoring the need for ongoing preparation. (Attribution: Drobyshevsky, socialbites.ca)