Russia deploys Bastion-P mobile coastal defense system near Pacific islands

Asia-Pacific, News December 6, 2021 , by IRIA No Comments

Russia has deployed Bastion-P mobile coastal missiles system to the Kuril Islands, a contested territory also claimed by Japan as ‘Northern Territory’.

Russia’s Defense Ministry released a video on December 2, showing its amphibious landing vessels carrying missile carriers, moving it along the coast of the Kuril Island to take firing positions as part of drills.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, “On this remote island (Matua) in the central part of the Kuril Ridge, servicemen will be on a 24-hour watch to monitor the adjacent water area and straits,”.

The Russian Eastern Military District also released a statement saying: “The missile crews of the Pacific Fleet will be on round-the-clock watch on this remote island in the central part of the Kuril Ridge to control the adjacent water area and strait zones.”

Russia’s latest deployment is part of Moscow’s plans to expand its military presence in the region.

The Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia values its relations with Japan and remains committed to efforts to negotiate a settlement. However, Peskov asserted that Moscow has a sovereign right to deploy its military forces wherever it deems necessary on its territory.

“We maintain a political will to pursue a comprehensive dialogue with our Japanese partners in order to find ways of settlement,” Peskov told reporters.

*^{Russia moves Bastion missile system to Matua, a deserted volcanic island near Pacific (Image Credit: Screenshot from a video/Russian Agencies)}*

On December 3, the U.S. Department of Defense released a statement saying: “Secretary [of Defense] Austin and [Japanese Defense] Minister Kishi discussed efforts to deepen defense cooperation to maintain regional deterrence, and agreed to hold a Security Consultative Committee ‘2+2’ meeting at an early date.”

The Bastion coastal defense system is designed to engage ground-based targets, landing craft, convoys, surface ships, and carrier battle groups. The system is armed with the P-800 Oniks supersonic anti-ship missiles capable of cruising at Mach 2.5 speeds. The P-800 Oniks can cover up to 600 km of coastline and have a 120-300 kilometers range.

The Bastion Coastal Defense systems entered service in 2015 and a year later in 2016 Russia first tested the Bastion systems armed with Oniks missiles in Syria to strike on terrorist targets. At that time, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said: “These complexes are able to destroy both sea and ground targets at a distance of 350 kilometers at sea and almost 450 kilometers over land.”