Paul Schwartz is a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, and his field is Russian and Eurasian studies. He says the air defense system is capable of downing a passenger jet.

"These missiles are capable of countering the full range of aerial platforms including manoeuvrable tactical aircraft, cruise and tactical ballistic missiles, precision guided munitions, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and even helicopters," Paul Schwartz said.

"It will take time to tell and I think what is going to ultimately have to happen is they'll collect and coordinate data from a variety of different sources including ground radar that was in the vicinity, long range, over the horizon radar that may have been operable from NATO territory. Possibly other airplanes that were flying in the particular airspace and also witnesses on the ground."

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