Polyana-D4 automatic control system for air defense brigade has been supplied to Syria together with S-300 air defense complexes, Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. "As you may know, for enhancing the security of Russian personnel, flight safety and the protection of facilities in Syria the supply of S-300 air defense systems and sets of the automated air defense systems Polyana-D4 has been completed," he said.

Polyana-D4 Automatic Control System Command Post
(Picture source: arms-expo.ru)

"Currently Russian military advisers are instructing Syrian personnel to operate these advanced air defense means. We believe that the ‘hot heads’ should assess properly the current situation in the region and refrain from provocative actions in Syria’s territory," Konashenkov said.

Earlier, a military-diplomatic source told TASS Russia had provided to Syria three battalions of the air defense system S-300PM (eight launchers in each) free of charge. Previously, the S-300 were in service in an air defense regiment of Russia’s Aerospace Force, now rearmed with the S-400 Triumf. The S-300 provided to Syria have undergone overhaul and are fully operational. The launchers were provided together with a set of more than 100 guided missiles for each battalion.

The agreement on the supply of S-300 missile systems in Syria had been signed back in 2010 to have been frozen shortly afterwards. On September 24, 2018, after the loss of Russia’s Ilyushin-20 plane, shot down in Syria, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russia would provide S-300 to Syria for enhancing its combat potential. On October 2, 2018 Shoigu told president Vladimir Putin that the S-300 had been airlifted to Syria.

Polyana-D4 ensures effective control of combat operations of an air defense brigade or a mixed air defense group armed with the air defense systems S-300, Tor, Buk, Pantsir-S and Tunguska.

The Russian armed forces are armed with upgraded Polyana-D4M1 to collect radar information, control the air situation, ensure flight security, monitor ground situation, control and promote unit interaction, and register the information. The complex comprises the command post, a command-staff vehicle, two power generators and an automated workplace. The system tracks 255 air targets and the aiming and coordination time is 1 to 3 seconds. Polyana-D4M1 can be deployed in 35 minutes.