Report: Russia won't export S-400 SAMs

MOSCOW, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Russia will not export S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missiles -- at least not for the next few years, RIA Novosti reported Thursday.

"A decision to export such systems may only be made by the country's top leadership," said a military industry expert, responding to a recent statement Belarus's defense minister made regarding his country's intention to buy S-400 systems.

Developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau as an upgrade of the S-300 model, the S-400 was designed to intercept and destroy airborne targets at a distance of up to 250 miles or twice the range of the U.S. MIM-104 Patriot and 2.5 times that of the S-300PMU-2.

The system is believed to be capable of destroying stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles with an effective range of up to 2,200 miles and a speed of up to 3 miles per second, Novosti said.