Russia to reinforce Black Sea Fleet with Bastion missile systems
In 2019, the Russian Defense Ministry will continue to reinforce its Black Sea Fleet with K300-P Bastion coastal defense missile systems armed with supersonic Onyx anti-ship cruise missiles, Interfax reported, citing a source familiar with the situation.
“In 2019, three missile battalions are expected [to be added]. They will be part of the coastal and ground forces of the Pacific, Northern and Black Sea Fleets,” the statement reads. These are the same types of missile systems already deployed in annexed Crimea.
“There are no plans yet to replace the Utes coastal missile system with the ground-based Bastions,” an interlocutor of the news agency said.
Russian specialists already practiced using the Bastion and Bal coastal defense armaments on March 1 during exercises in the Crimea. Russian Army Recon units and the Black Sea Fleet practiced combat in the rear of a mock enemy at one of the testing sites.
After the annexation of the Crimea in 2014, Russia carried out regular military exercises on the peninsula. The General Staff of Ukraine has repeatedly condemned these actions as illegal.