Russia to form air-space defence command by year-end

Moscow: Russia's will integrate its air-space defence forces and form a separate command by the end of the year, the commander of the country's space force said Thursday. Lieutenant General Oleg Ostapenko told local newsmen that the concept of creating the joint air-space defence force had been approved and that it would be formed on the basis of the existing Space Force.

Lt Gen Ostapenko also said the first level of the space-based ballistic missile attack early warning system was currently being set up.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev ordered the formation of the air-space defence system in 2010. The defence ministry was ordered to combine existing air defences, ballistic missile defences, ballistic missile attack early warning and outer space monitoring systems, and have operating under a single command by 1 December this year.