Russia, Belarus to sign air defense pact

MOSCOW, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Russia and Belarus are set to sign an agreement for a regional joint air defense system to counter NATO's eastward expansion, officials said.

The agreement, expected to be signed Nov. 2 by the Supreme State Council of the Russia-Belarus Union State, would involve the coordination of existing Belarussian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems and as well as the possible purchase of advanced S-400 systems from Russia, RIA Novosti reported Wednesday.

State Secretary of the Union of Russia and Belarus Pavel Borodin said the new agreement was a vital counterweight to efforts by NATO to woo other former Soviet republics.

"Military speaking, it is virtually a shield against NATO," Borodin told RIA Novosti.