Russia intends to acquire the S-500, its notional next-generation air defense system, by 2020 to defeat hypersonic missiles and sophisticated ballistic missiles, according to Russian press reports. “The S-500 air defense system is a system that will solve Russia’s missile defense problems,” Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, Russian air force commander, said Tuesday, reported RIA Novosti. The S-500 is expected to be able to engage targets out to 600 km and defend airspace against multiple targets simultaneously, stated the Russian news service report. The news comes as Russia continues to populate its current S-400 system around Moscow and in its far East, according to a second RIA Novosti report. (See also Global Security Newswire report)
Trainees in Basic Military Training and technical school no longer have the option to try alternate PT drills if they fail an initial assessment, according to a policy change the Air Force made in April. The move is part of a larger shift out of the classroom and into hands-on,…