World | Russia Russia Building 'Star Wars' Defense Moscow plans major improvement to launch in 2017 By Arden Dier Posted Aug 30, 2013 2:51 PM CDT Copied In this undated photo, a Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system is on display. (AP Photo, File) Russia might not be thrilled with US plans to build a NATO shield in Europe, but that's not stopping Moscow from beefing up its own missile-defense system, AFP reports. It plans to launch a long-range system in 2017 capable of knocking out targets in space. The S-500 system would be a big improvement over the current S-400 Triumph system, which has a range of 250 miles. That also would be a big step up in the missile-defense systems Russia is supplying to Syria. Read These Next Golden Globes ends with an upset. Fed's Jerome Powell usually holds his fire. But no more. Nikki Glaser jokes about Epstein files at the Golden Globes. Kelly will fight Pentagon in court over Hegseth move. Report an error