Russia wants to reform its air defense forces after gaining new experience from the war in Ukraine and will also strengthen its air defenses to counter Finland’s entry into the NATO military alliance, the commander of Russia’s aerospace forces said, according to Reuters.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year in what it calls a “special military operation,” the fighting has escalated into an artillery war with extensive use of drones and missiles, testing the air defenses of both Russia and Ukraine. .

In an interview published in the newspaper “Chervona Zirka” on Monday, Deputy Chief of the Air Force Lieutenant General Andriy Dyomin said that the air defense forces faced a number of challenges in the face of Ukrainian strikes.

According to him, Russia additionally has more than 50 mobile radar stations and A-50 early warning and control aircraft that patrol around the clock, as well as reinforced missile and anti-aircraft installations in areas near Ukraine.

According to Dyomin, air defense units have been created in the Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine to protect key objects, and Russia has accelerated the production of the RLK-MS anti-drone system.

Reforms are undoubtedly planned and will be implemented,” Demin told the Ministry of Defense newspaper.

“The goal of future changes is the development of the armed forces aimed at improving the air defense system of the Russian Federation,” said Demin.

Demin said Russia would also strengthen its defenses after Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, joins NATO.

“Under these conditions, the air defense forces are working out the issues of protecting the state border in the north-west of the country in accordance with the increased level of threats,” said Dyomin.

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