S-500 missile system explained

S-500 Prometheus
C-500 Прометей
Origin:The Russian Federation
Type:Mobile surface-to-air missile
Is Explosive:yes
Is Vehicle:yes
Is Missile:yes
Is Uk:yes
Service:16 September 2021
Used By:Russian Space Forces
Designer:Almaz-Antey
Manufacturer:Almaz-Antey
Unit Cost:$2.5 billion
Production Date:2021–present
Number:1 S-500 regiment in service[1] [2]
Vehicle Range:600 km

The S-500 Prometheus (Russian: C-500 Прометей|), also known as 55R6M "Triumfator-M",[3] is a Russian surface-to-air missile/anti-ballistic missile system supplementing the S-400 and the A-235 ABM missile system.[4] The S-500 was developed by the Almaz-Antey Air Defence Concern. Initially planned to be in production by 2014, the first unit entered service in 2021 with the 15th Aerospace Army.[5] [6] [7] Russia claims that the S-500 is capable of intercepting all types of modern hypersonic weapons; and has claimed to have successfully tested such capability.[8] [9] Russia is reportedly planning to deploy the S-500 alongside the planned[10] S-550 missile system as part of its air defense network.[11] [12]

History

According to the original plans, ten S-500 battalions were to be purchased for the Russian Aerospace Defense (VKO) under the State Armament Programme 2020 (GPV-2020).[13]

As of 2013, the S-500s were intended to work in parallel with S-400s, and the systems together were planned to replace most of the S-300 missile systems.[14] The first units are planned to be deployed around the Moscow oblast and the country's central area in 2025. A naval version is the likely armament for the new Lider-class destroyer, which was to enter service after 2020 but was not operational as of 2022.[15]

CEO of Rostec Corporation Sergey Chemezov declared the beginning of S-500 production on 30 June 2019. Despite that, serial production of the first 10 systems (ordered in late 2020) only began in 2021.[16] [17] In summer 2020 Sergei Surovikin, the commander of the Aerospace Forces, seemed to confirm that the S-500 system can be used to kill satellites.[18]

A new contract was signed in August 2022.[19] In October 2023, Defense News claimed that production of S-500 remained behind, being negatively affected by the sanctions against Russia and labor shortages.[20]

The cost for one S-500 system was estimated be around $700-$800 million in 2020, and up to $2.5 billion in 2023.

Testing

In May 2018, Russia conducted the longest range surface-to-air missile test to date with the S-500. According to reports citing unnamed sources familiar with U.S. intelligence on the program, the S-500 was able to hit a target 482 km (300 mi) away, which is 80 km further than the previous record.[21]

On 4 June 2019, the Russian Ministry of Defense posted a video showing the successful launch of a new anti-ballistic missile system in the form of a long-range surface-to-air missile. Though the nature of the air defense system which was being tested was not mentioned it has been widely speculated to have been a test of the S-500 Prometheus long-range surface-to-air missile system.[22]

In July 2021, the Russian MOD released the first public footage of a live-fire test of the new S-500 anti-ballistic missile system at Kapustin Yar.[23]

Operational history

The first S-500 prototype went on combat duty in Moscow on 13 October 2021. However, it did not yet meet the full set of requirements specified by its operator, the 1st Special Purpose Air and Missile Defense Army. In June 2024, Ukraine claimed the S-500 had been deployed to the Crimean peninsula to defend the Kerch Bridge.[24] In its operational debut in Ukraine, the S-500 proved unsuccessful in defending against Ukrainian launched MGM-140 ATACMS missiles.[25]

Design

The S-500 is designed for intercepting and destroying intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as hypersonic cruise missiles and aircraft.[26] With a planned range of 600km (400miles) for anti-ballistic missile (ABM) and 500km (300miles) for air defense,[27] the S-500 was envisaged to be able to detect and simultaneously engage up to 10 ballistic hypersonic targets flying at up to a maximum of 7km/s.[28] The altitude of a target engaged is claimed to be as high as 180–.[29] However, as of 2023, the S-500's ability to intercept hypersonic missiles had not yet been tested. Other targets it has been announced to defend against include unmanned aerial vehicles, low Earth orbit satellites, space weapons launched from hypersonic aircraft, and hypersonic orbital platforms.[30] It is to have a response time of less than 4 seconds (compared to the S-400's of less than 10).[31]

Components

The S-500 consists of:[32]

The missiles used by the system are:[33] [34]

Export

In September 2021, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said that India could be a prospective, and probably the first, S-500 customer.[35] [36] [37] [38] [39]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: S-500 enters service in Moscow region. 14 October 2021 .
  2. Web site: Russian Defence Minister announces transfer of S-500 air defence missile systems to Russian troops. Pravda.
  3. Web site: S-500/S-1000 (Russian Federation), Defensive weapons . https://web.archive.org/web/20100212224418/http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Strategic-Weapon-Systems/S-500-S1000-Russian-Federation.html . 2010-02-12 . 2009-02-10 . Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems . 11 August 2009.
  4. Web site: Russia to upgrade Moscow's missile defenses by year's end. DefenseNews. 29 March 2023 .
  5. Web site: 8 May 2020. Armed forces plan to get first S-500 systems in 2021. (In Russian). 28 June 2020. Ria Novosti.
  6. Web site: First batch of Russian-made S-500 system enters service — Deputy PM. 2021-10-20. TASS.
  7. Web site: Russia Puts Its 'F-22 Killer' S-500 Missile Defense System into Mass Production as Tensions Boil over Ukraine . 25 April 2022 .
  8. Web site: Where is Russia's S-500 air defense system?. Maxim. Starchak. 5 October 2023. Defense News. 25 January 2024.
  9. Web site: The Russian Armed Forces tested the S-500 for its ability to shoot down hypersonic targets. Izvestia. 27 February 2024 .
  10. Web site: Where is Russia's S-500 air defense system?. Maxim. Starchak. 5 October 2023. Defense News. 25 January 2024. "There is currently no evidence Russia has developed the S-550.".
  11. Web site: Russia to upgrade Moscow's missile defenses by year's end. Maxim. Starchak. Defense News. 29 March 2023 . 25 January 2024.
  12. Web site: Russian Defence Minister announces transfer of S-500 air defence missile systems to Russian troops. Pravda.
  13. Web site: Valeriy Ivanov on VKO, S-500, S-400 | Russian Defense Policy . 24 July 2011 . russiandefpolicy.wordpress.com . 21 March 2015.
  14. Web site: 28 November 2013 . Russian Army Will Be Equipped with S-500 New Surface-to-Air Missile Defense System for 2020 . 2023-10-08 . Army Recognition .
  15. Web site: New-generation missile destroyer under development in Russia . https://web.archive.org/web/20141024041212/http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/755539 . 2014-10-24 . 21 October 2014 . 28 October 2014 . ITAR-TASS.
  16. Web site: 23 February 2021. Armed forces plan to get first S-500 systems in 2021. (In Russian). 28 June 2020. Ria Novosti.
  17. Web site: Russian Defense Ministry signs contract on first 10 S-500 air defense systems — source .
  18. News: Hendrickx . Bart . Russia gears up for electronic warfare in space (part 2) . The Space Review . 2 November 2020.
  19. Web site: Defense firm signs contract on delivery of S-500 air defense systems to Russian troops .
  20. Web site: Starchak . Maxim . 2023-10-05 . Where is Russia's S-500 air defense system? . 2023-10-08 . Defense News . en.
  21. Web site: Russia's S-500 Air Defense System Reportedly Hits Target Nearly 300 Miles Away. 24 May 2018. 7 June 2019. The Warzone. JOSEPH TREVITHICK.
  22. Web site: S-500 or A-235? Russia Tests Advanced New Missile Defence System With Extreme Range. 5 June 2019. 7 June 2019. Military Watch.
  23. Web site: Serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense systems begins in Russia — source. 2021-10-20. TASS.
  24. News: Altman . Howard . 12 June 2024 . S-500 Prometheus Air Defense System Now Protecting Russia's Kerch Bridge: Ukraine's Spy Boss . The War Zone . 13 June 2024.
  25. Web site: Korshak . Stefan . 2024-06-24 . ATACMS Comes Out on Top Versus Russia's S-500 Anti-Missile System . 2024-06-25 . Kyiv Post . en.
  26. Web site: Garamone . Jim . 2020-07-28 . Missile Defense Becomes Part of Great Power Competition . 2023-12-29 . U.S. Department of Defense . en-US.
  27. News: Sergei . Ptichkin . ru:Отстрелялись антиракетой — Идут испытания С-500 — новейшей системы ПВО-ПРО . Shot by anti-missile – Testing underway of C-500 – the modern air and missile defence system . ru . rg.ru . 8 July 2014 . 14 November 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141019160438/http://www.rg.ru/2014/07/07/s-500-site.html . 19 October 2014.
  28. Web site: https://lenta.ru/articles/2012/04/10/future/ . ru:Россия откроет производство комплексов С-500 в 2015 году . Russia will open production complexes for S-500 in 2015 . ru . Lenta.ru . 10 April 2012 . 8 November 2016.
  29. Web site: Russia begins series production of S-500 air-defence system . Miko . Vranic . . 2022-04-27 . 2022-06-26.
  30. http://www.armyrecognition.com/august_2014_global_defense_security_news_uk/first_regiment_of_s-500_new_air_defense_missile_system_will_protect_moscow_and_center_of_russia_2108.html First regiment of S-500 new air defense missile system will protect Moscow and center of Russia
  31. Web site: S-500 Prometheus . https://web.archive.org/web/20130601113727/http://missilethreat.com/defense-systems/s-500/ . 2013-06-01 . Missile Threat . 14 November 2014.
  32. Web site: Almaz-Antey S-500 Triumfator M Self Propelled Air / Missile Defence System / SA-X-NN / Самоходный Комплекс Противоракетной / Противосамолетной Обороны С-500 "Триумфатор-М" . Carlo . Kopp . 2011-06-15 . 1 . ausairpower.net . 2015-03-21.
  33. Web site: Where is Russia's S-500 air defense system? . 5 October 2023 .
  34. Web site: На уровень выше Россия откроет производство комплексов С-500 в 2015 году .
  35. News: Russia exploring market for S550 missile system; all eyes on India. The Economic Times. 2021-12-07.
  36. Web site: 2021-09-17. EXCLUSIVE: India Likely To Be The First Customer Of S-500 Missile Defense System – Russian Deputy PM. 2021-12-07. Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. en-US.
  37. Web site: First batch of Russian-made S-500 system enters service — Deputy PM. 2021-12-07. TASS.
  38. Web site: 2021-09-17. Government speculation: India may buy S-500 missile system. 2021-12-07. en-US.
  39. Web site: India Could Potentially Become 1st Buyer Of Russias S-500 Missile System - Borissov. 2021-12-07. UrduPoint. en.

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