Since air defense systems are part of aerial warfare weapons, Russia has developed other systems capable of preemptive missile strikes against enemy air defenses on land and sea, granting attack aircraft and fighters complete air superiority. The ‘Bastion’ system is one of Russia’s coastal defense systems designed to destroy enemy ships equipped with air defense systems that can be used against Russian aircraft. This system can launch high-speed long-range ‘Yakhont’ missiles, capable of reaching any enemy ship even if it is hundreds of kilometers from the shore. The ‘Yakhont’ missiles used by this system are notable for their ability to change course after launch, allowing them to reach the target from unexpected directions and angles, significantly increasing the chances of success. The site also noted that loading this system onto mobile platforms enhances its maneuverability after launch and increases the chances of concealment to avoid retaliatory strikes from the enemy. The site indicates that the range of the ‘Yakhont’ used by the system reaches up to 300 kilometers, with speeds ranging between 680 meters and 750 meters per second, approximately twice the speed of sound, highlighting the threat of these missiles in their ability to change direction at a 90-degree angle towards the target after launch.
