Russia recently deployed its mobile coastal defense missile system on the Kuril Island of Paramushir amid tensions with Japan.

According to news reports, the K-300P Bastion-P (P stands for mobile) anti-ship missile system has stationed an additional battery in the northern part of the Kuril ridge alongside its Pacific Fleet near Japan.

“The Bastion coastal missile system combat units of the Pacific Fleet have been deployed and have taken up duty in the northern part of the Kuril ridge on Paramushir Island. Coastal missile men of the Pacific Fleet will keep a round-the-clock to control the adjacent water area and strait zones,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The operation and maintenance, technical posts equipment, material storage facilities, and entrances to the launching zones were all deployed on the island alongside active military personnel, who will also be conducting routine combat training exercises, the statement added.

The Russian defense missile system boasting a range of up to 500 miles, was previously deployed on the Kuril Island of Matua in December last year and was reportedly based in the Crimean Peninsula in 2015 after its successful annexation. The Bastion-P was then allegedly used to destroy land-based targets during the early months of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine due to an “apparent shortage of land-attack missiles.” It served as the primary launch platform of the P-800 supersonic Oniks anti-ship cruise missile to bombard the cities in the southern part of Ukraine, including Sevastopol. Moreover, Russia has another system installed in the Arctic to protect its coastline, territorial waters, and mineral and energy resources.

Developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the Bastion-P is primarily a coastal defense missile system that targets attack surface ships such as carrier battle groups, sea convoys, and landing aircraft. The coastal defense system, also known as SSC-5 or Stooge, entered the Russian armed forces in the 2010s with three initial units delivered and successfully used against ground-based radiocontrast targets during the Russian military intervention in Syria in 2016.