Russian Navy Pacific Fleet Test-Fired its 3K55 Bastion Anti-Ship Missile System.

“The Pacific Fleet coastal forces’ missile formation troops conduct the first launch of a new ‘Bastion’ missile system that entered service in 2016,” Vladimir Matveev said, adding that he expects the new system to enter combat duty next month.

The Russian Pacific Fleet’s missile and artillery brigade received the Bastion system in March 2016 and formed a battalion armed with the system. Since that date, the battalion has undergone special training with Russia’s Black Sea Fleet to operate Bastion coastal defense missile systems.

The 3K55 Bastion coastal defense missile system is designed to eliminate single surface ships and vessels within assault units, attack groups and convoys at a distance of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles). The system can also hit ground targets. The Bastion coastal defense missile system is in service with Russia’s Armed Forces. The system has been delivered to Syria and Vietnam.

The Bastion coastal defense missile system was deployed on the Crimean coast in 2014.

In September 2014, the Bastion coastal defense missile system was used to destroy a training target at a range of 90 kilometers (56 miles) in the central part of the Black Sea during maneuvers.