Report: Russia, Syria establish integrated air defense system

Russia and Syria have formed a "unified, integrated air defense system" in Syria, Russia's state-run news agency TASS reported Saturday. The move could potentially limit the operations of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State terrorist group in the area.

According to the report, Russian air defenses in Syria, set up in the Khmeimim airfield southeast of the port city of Latakia, include a radio engineering battalion, a battery of Pantsir-S units and the advanced S-400 anti-aircraft missile system.

Pantsir-S1 is a combined short-to-medium range surface-to-air missile and artillery weapon system designed to provide point air defense for military and industrial installations against aircraft, precision munitions, cruise missiles and drones.

"Today, a unified integrated air defense system has been set up in Syria. We have ensured the information and technical interlinkage of the Russian and Syrian air reconnaissance systems. All information on the situation in the air comes from Syrian radar stations to the control points of the Russian force grouping," Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces Maj. Gen. Sergey Meshcheryakov was quoted as saying over the weekend.

"These air defense missile systems are capable of destroying targets within a range of up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) at an altitude of up to 35 kilometers (22 miles)," Meshcheryakov said, adding that the Russian Aerospace Forces had "inflicted substantial damage" on Islamic State infrastructure in Syria by destroying their weapons, ammunition and fuel depots.

"Thanks to regular airstrikes against the oil infrastructure and the destruction of oil convoys, the substantial economic damage has been inflicted on the enemy as well," Mescheryakov concluded.