The Defense Ministry source told TASS previously that the work was underway on the on the creation for the Russian Airborne Forces of the world’s first air-droppable anti-aircraft missile defense system based on the BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle. The Russian Airborne Forces currently have in service various modifications of the Strela-10 air defense missile system the basic model of which had been made operational in 1976.

The Sosna-10 new air defense missile system that is to replace Strela, is capable of hitting aerial targets the range of up to 10 kilometers and altitude up to 5 kilometers. One Sosna combat vehicle is equipped with 12 Sosna-R guided missiles. Also, it has been reported that an upgraded version of the missile - Sosna-M, is being developed for the system.

The track-mounted Sadovnitsa BMD-4M combat vehicle is a version of the BMD-4 vehicle with a new body, engine, chassis and other units. It is equipped with the Bakhcha-U combat unit, which comprises two guns - one of 100-mm caliber and another - of 30-mm caliber, and a machine gun. Previously, a Russian Defense Ministry source told TASS that the BMD-4M vehicle, along with the BTR-MDM (Rakushka) armored personnel carrier entered service. According to other previous reports, under the existing contract the Russian Defense Ministry should receive within three years up to 250 of these airborne combat vehicles and armored personnel carriers.