BERLIN, (BM) – The Russian anti-aircraft missile system S-500 “Prometheus” is ahead of its western counterparts by 15-20 years, writes the German publication Focus, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.
Read more: Russian S-500 missile systems will be able to destroy hypersonic and space targets
“Invisible aircraft will also be an easy target for the latest complex,” the article says. The publication quotes the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, who said that Prometheus will be the first generation of space defense systems.
“The range of the complex is 600 kilometers, which suggests that it can even be used to protect against meteorites and other celestial bodies,” Focus said.
In addition, the publication cites the words of the director of the Center for the Analysis of World Trade in Arms, Igor Korotchenko, that Prometheus can destroy any target in near space and atmosphere, and at the same time it is quickly transferred to any direction.
The S-500 Prometheus (Triumfator-M development center) belongs to the new generation of ground-to-air anti-aircraft missile systems, and is a universal complex of long-range and high-altitude interception with increased missile defense potential. A promising system is capable of destroying not only ballistic, but also aerodynamic targets (planes, helicopters), as well as cruise missiles.
According to RIA Novosti in May, Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko, the first S-500 systems may appear in service with the Russian army next year.
It became known what the S-500 “Prometheus” air defense system is capable of.
S-500 “Prometheus” anti-aircraft missile systems can be attributed to the first generation of anti-space defense systems, Colonel-General Sergei Surovikin, Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces, told the Red Star.
Read more: An expert explains capabilities of the Russian S-500 missile system
He noted that the S-500 applies the principle of separately solving the tasks of destroying ballistic and aerodynamic targets, their task is to destroy medium-range ballistic missiles, and, if necessary, warheads of intercontinental ballistic missiles in the final section of their flight path.
“According to its tactical and technical characteristics, the S-500 can be attributed to the first generation of anti-space defense systems, since in the future it will be able to destroy low-orbit satellites and space weapons,” said Sergey Surovikin.
He noted that the characteristics laid down in the S-500 make it possible to destroy hypersonic weapons of all modifications, including in near space.
“It is safe to say that analogues of this system simply do not exist,” said the Colonel General.
Earlier, Sputnik radio reported that the S-500 infects hypersonic weapons in space. And from the short audio clip below, you will find out why the S-300 and S-500 air defense systems cause fear in NATO.
Read more: Russian S-500 missile system prepares for an early start of deliveries to the army
Russian S-500 missile systems will be able to destroy hypersonic and space targets
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 July 3.
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.”
Read more: Military expert: US wants to stop Russia from adopting S-500 missile system
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.
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.
Read more: Russia unveils the capabilities of its ‘anti-space weapon’ – the S-500 missile system
Later, the Ministry of Defense announced that the start of preliminary tests of the entire system is planned in 2020.
Russian S-500 missile system prepares for an early start of deliveries to the army
In 2019, Russia tested the S-500 Prometheus, which has no analogues in the world, for anti-aircraft missile systems (ZRS), Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said in his article for the corporate journal Radioelectronic Technologies of the KRET concern.
He noted that the new complex will be ready for deliveries to the troops this year.
As the Deputy Minister of Defense explained, the main task of the S-500 is to combat the combat equipment of medium-range ballistic missiles – up to 3,500 km. In addition, these systems can deal with intercontinental ballistic missiles in the final and middle sections of the trajectory.
Earlier in an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, Krivoruchko reported that preliminary tests of the S-500 will begin in 2020, and the start of their serial deliveries in 2025. At the same time, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoigu reported that the delivery of the system to the troops will begin this year.
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.
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.
Read more: Russia Has Tested S-500 Missile Defence Systems in Syria to Detect ‘Stealth’ Targets
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