"I am very concerned about it, that is why I keep insisting that we have to modernize," Gen. Welsh said when asked about US capabilities against new Russian S-400 air defense system.
In the future, Russia "will export their new capabilities as they field them, and their new capabilities will be better than our old stuff," Welsh added, noting that the Russian aircraft are being flown by 53 countries.
Russia currently has contracts with Syria for the S-300 air defense missile system, and a new contract with Iran to deliver the S-400 system in the future. The systems are highly capable of defending against incursions by adversaries’ aircraft.
In February, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that five sets of its sophisticated S-400 missile systems will enter into service by October 2016.
