Moscow: Russia will beef up its missile defence by deploying the long-delayed S-400 Triumph missile system around Moscow later this month, an air force spokesman said Monday. "One division and a command point will be put into combat duty at the end of the month," air force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky said, news agency Interfax reported.

Russia succesfully tested S-400 missiles (pictured), also known by their NATO designation SA-21 Growler, on Thursday and Friday, immediately before the Kremlin announced its withdrawal from a key European arms control treaty.

The missiles, which were first to be deployed in 2001, are designed to shoot down medium-range ballistic missiles and aircraft from as far away as 400 kilometres (250 miles), twice as far as the US Patriot missile.

Russia and the United States are locked in a heated dispute over missile defence, with Moscow accusing Washington of provoking a "new arms race" with its plans to deploy a missile shield in central Europe.

Russia says the system is a clear threat to Russian security, while Washington insists the system is not aimed at Russia but against potential missile threats from countries such as Iran and North Korea.

The Kremlin said on Saturday that Russia was withdrawing from the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, which limits the deployment of arms in Europe. [link to www.defencetalk.com]