Russian S-500 missile systems will be able to destroy hypersonic and space targets
MOSCOW, (BM) – Based on the characteristics of the S-500, it will be used as an element of mobile strategic missile defense, Igor Korotchenko, director of the Center for the Analysis of World Arms Trade, said on Friday at RIA Novosti, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.
Read more: An expert explains capabilities of the Russian S-500 missile system
So he commented on the words of the commander of the Russian Air Force Colonel-General Sergei Surovikin that the S-500 Prometheus could destroy hypersonic weapons in space.
“The S-500 can destroy virtually all existing and promising aerial targets in near space and in the atmosphere, therefore it can solve strategic missile defense issues. In addition, it is a mobile system, which means it can be quickly deployed to any threatened area,” – explained Korotchenko.
The expert said that the exact characteristics of the S-500 are classified today, but it is known that it is “omnivorous.”
“The S-500 is capable of detecting, tracking as targets traditional for such systems – aircraft of all types, tactical and operational-tactical missiles, ballistic missiles, as well as drones and promising hypersonic missiles. The system operates in a wide range: in the atmosphere and near space, on heights of the order of 270-300 kilometers,” said Korotchenko.
According to him, the S-500 is a fully automated system, “combat work, target detection and tracking, missile selection for use is carried out, in fact, without the participation of the operator, his task is only to confirm the launch.”
Competitors of similar systems may appear no earlier than in 15-20 years, until that time in the West they will not be able to create such technologies, predicts Korotchenko. “The development of analogues of the S-500 is in the initial stage, and we, in fact, have begun the stage of field tests.”
The Ministry of Defense stated that the first S-500 set could be transferred to the troops in 2021, then, after several years, mass production will be launched. For this, Almaz-Antey [producer] put into operation three new sites in St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod and Kirov, Korotchenko added.
Read more: Russian S-500 missile system prepares for an early start of deliveries to the army
One of the competitors of the S-500, according to the expert, is the American mobile anti-ballistic missile complex THAAD, “but its capabilities are limited only by the atmospheric interception of medium-range missiles, while the S-500 is a multifunctional system.”
Prometheus is ready for fire. Test Details of S-500 Air Defense Systems Revealed
Last year on March 26 we announced that in Russia, tests of individual elements of the new generation S-500 air defense system are nearing completion, according the Director General of the Design Bureau of Special Engineering Vladimir Dolbenkov statement.
“Also in the interests of the air defense missile defense troops, the company’s specialists created units of the latest generation Triumfator-M mobile anti-aircraft missile system. Within the framework of this topic, tests of anti-aircraft missile system units were developed and completed: a launcher, components of a multifunctional radar and missile defense system, equipped chassis for the combat command post, transport units for the early warning radar system,” the newspaper Vzglyad quotes Dolbenkov’s interview with the Russian Defense magazine.
In June 2019, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation on defense industry Yuri Borisov announced the phased testing of various elements of the S-500 air defense system as well as the launching of new missiles that have no analogues in the world.
Later, the Ministry of Defense announced that the start of preliminary tests of the entire system is planned in 2020.
Chinese media found the ability to knock down meteorites in the S-500
Russian S-500 “Prometheus” anti-aircraft missile systems are by far the most advanced anti-missile system in the Russian arsenal and claim to be the best in the world. This opinion was expressed by experts of the Chinese publication Sina on September 23, 2019.
The author of the publication notes that the Prometeas created on the basis of the S-400 can effectively resist not only all types of modern aircraft, including cruise missiles, drones, ultrafast ballistic guns and transatmospheric hypersonic aircraft, but even intercept meteorites.
In this regard, the story of the fall of a meteorite on February 15, 2013 near Chelyabinsk is mentioned. Then only fragments of the cosmic body flew to the earth, the “power” of which exceeded the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Read more: Military expert: US wants to stop Russia from adopting S-500 missile system
“In social networks, this incident was called the” miracle of the S-500’s work, “because, as they say, while the tests were being conducted of a new system that intercepted this meteorite and successfully destroyed it, thanks to which the Earth did not suffer in any way,” writes Sina.
It is specified that the range of the new Russian air defense system will significantly surpass its predecessors. He will be able to fire at once on ten targets at a distance of 500 km.
In addition, the complex will be additionally equipped with a new type of radar station, increasing the range of enemy detection by 150-200 kilometers.
“The combat effectiveness of the entire complex will be several times greater than the effectiveness of any modern air defense system in the world,” the author of the article emphasizes.
As BulgarianMilitary.com reported earlier, in June 2019, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia Denis Manturov stated that the latest Russian air defense system S-500 “Prometey” was ready for mass production.
The tests carried out confirmed the basic characteristics of the S-500. The air defense system will be put into service with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation within the time frames determined by the state armament program for 2018-2027. The developer of the system is Almaz-Antey Concern.
About S-500 Prometheus
S-500 “Prometheus” (OKR “Triumfator-M”) – a new generation of ground-to-air anti-aircraft missile system (SAM). It is a universal complex of long-range and high-altitude interception with increased missile defense potential, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
Read more: Russia unveils the capabilities of its ‘anti-space weapon’ – the S-500 missile system
The S-500 is capable of hitting not only ballistic, but also aerodynamic targets (aircraft, helicopters, other air targets), as well as cruise missiles. According to open sources, the radius of damage to the system is about 600 kilometers.
In terms of its characteristics, the S-500 will significantly exceed the one in service with the S-400 and its American competitor Patriot Advanced Capability-3.
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