A new missile warning radar will be built in southern Russia, announced Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov on Tuesday. Itar-Tass quotes Ivanov as saying that the threat of tactical or cruise missiles from the south is “quite possible,” and that Russia intends to “increase the time from observation of target to impact regarding all types of missiles, including intercontinental ballistic, tactical, and cruise missiles.” He added that the new radar will allow Russia to end its dependence on foreign elements such as the Daryal radar in Azerbaijan and the two Dnepr radars in Ukrainian Sevastopol and Mukachevo.

        The range at which the new radar will be able to detect an incoming missile will be the same as existing radars, up to 6,000 km. Ivanov made the announcement at the missile warning facility at Lekhtusi, near St. Petersburg. Unlike the “meter-band” Lekhtusi radar, the new radar is said to be more precise, operating in the decimeter band.

        Although the location of the new radar seems not to have been specified, a facility in southern Russia with a range of 6,000 km would probably be of use to any missile launched in the vicinity of Iran.