Russia to Provide Tajikistan with S-300PS Air Defence Batteries
Military Watch Magazine Editorial Staff
S-300 Surface to Air Missile Battery
The Russian Defence Ministry is reportedly planning to provide the armed forces of Tajikistan with the S-300PS surface to air missile system, an early variant of the S-300 which entered service from 1985 for defence against air and missile attacks. This possibility was alluded to by Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu at a meeting of the Defense Ministry board, although a final decision has yet to be made. The Russian military deployed S-300 batteries to the Central Asian state earlier in the year, with the system deployed to Russia’s 201st military base in the country after it was delivered by rail. As a member of the CIS military alliance, which unites several Soviet successor states, Tajikistan is entitled to receive Russian military hardware at concessional prices. It is unclear whether Moscow intends to provide the S-300PS system free of charge.
The S-300PS system is itself being phased out of service in the Russian military in favour of the new S-350 which performs a highly similar role, but provision of the system to the Tajik armed forces would represent a major enhancement to its air defence capabilities. This in turn could benefit Russian security interests, with CIS member states cooperating closely in air defence and a stronger Tajik air defence capability potentially providing some cover to Russia’s southern flank. Even if provided free of charge, the Tajik military would be expected to cover the system’s operational costs, allowing Russia to improve the defences of the Central Asian region without considerable cost to itself - with these systems scheduled for retirement anyway. The S-300PS retains an engagement range of 90km, and deploys 5V55R surface to air missiles which are optimised for intercepting enemy aircraft and cruise missiles. Tajikistan’s proximity to Afghanistan, where NATO forces are deployed in large numbers, makes ensuring its security particularly critical to Russia’s interests. The country currently fields no combat jets, and relies on ageing pre-Vietnam War era surface to air missile systems including the S-75 and S-125.
