World | Russia Russia Building 'Star Wars' Defense Moscow plans major improvement to launch in 2017 By Arden Dier Posted Aug 30, 2013 2:51 PM CDT Copied In this undated photo, a Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system is on display. (AP Photo, File) 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 These Next 'Bad batch' of drugs causes mass OD in Baltimore. Surgical staff squares off with ICE agents. Jack White made it to 50 without owning a cellphone. He fired the crucial 'ninth shot' against Trump gunman. Report an error