Russia will soon sign a contract on the supply of S-300 air defense systems to Kazakhstan, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
"The sides are working on a relevant contract at present," spokeswoman Irina Kovalchuk told journalists after a meeting between Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his Kazakh counterpart Adylbek Dzhaksybekov, RIA Novosti reported.
Kazakhstan signed an agreement with Russia to purchase 40 S-300PS (NATO designation SA-10D Grumble) air defense missile systems in March 2009, with deliveries to take place from 2009 to 2011.
The S-300PS model was introduced in the Russian Armed Forces in 1985. It features 5V55R missiles which increased the maximum engagement range to 90 kilometers (56 miles) and a terminal semi-active radar homing (SARH) guidance mode.
Russia has announced plans to expand military-technical cooperation with members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and set up an integrated air defense network with them.
The CSTO is a post-Soviet security grouping comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
The Kazakh military believe that S-300 systems would "significantly enhance the protection of the country's airspace."
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