Russia Building 'Star Wars' Defense

Moscow plans major improvement to launch in 2017

By Arden Dier, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 30, 2013 2:51 PM CDT

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Russia Building 'Star Wars' Defense — In this undated photo, a Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system is on display. (AP Photo, File)

(Newser) – Russia might not be thrilled with US plans to build a NATO shield in Europe, but that's not stopping Moscow from beefing up its own missile-defense system, AFP reports. It plans to launch a long-range system in 2017 capable of knocking out targets in space. The S-500 system would be a big improvement over the current S-400 Triumph system, which has a range of 250 miles. That also would be a big step up in the missile-defense systems Russia is supplying to Syria. (Read more Russia stories.)