S-500 Missile System Crews Already Being Trained by Russian Air Defence Forces; A Look at the Game Changing Platform's Capabilities

With Russian defence manufacturer Almaz Antey having begun to deliver prototypes of the S-500 ‘Prometey’ (Prometheus) long range surface to air missile system for testing, training of crews for the platform has already begun under the Russian Air Defence Forces platform. The weapons system is set to enter service in the early 2020s, possibly before 2021, and will reportedly be even more revolutionary than the preceding S-400 system. While Russian and Chinese S-400 batteries have only recently begun to be armed with the 40N6 surface to air missile, an extremely precise platform capable of impacting targets at ranges of 400km at hypersonic speeds, the S-500 is reportedly set to deploy even longer ranges hypersonic over the horizon missiles - with some of these unnamed munitions having been publicly tested. The air defence system is also set to extend the 600km detection range of the S-400 further. While the S-400, and its specialised anti missile analogue the S-300V4,  are currently without parallel in either China or the West - particularly when considering the power of their sensors and the unique capabilities of the 40N6 - the S-500 will expand this lead further in Russia’s favour.

Lieutenant Genenral Vladimir Lyaporov, chief of the Zhukov Air and Space Defence Academy, has stated regarding progress in the S-500 program: "I will point out that 2019 will see the graduation of the first officers from the academy under the training program for the S-500 complex, which has not yet been introduced into the forces, but which we expect in the near future.” Initial variants of the S-500 are set to deploy primarily with a missile defence focus, similarly to the S-300V4 but more closely reflecting the focus of the A-135 anti ballistic missile systems which is currently protecting Moscow. The missile system will also be capable of engaging enemy aircraft and cruise missiles, and development of later variants better suited to these roles is expected to eventually replace the S-400 and S-300PMU-2 currently deployed by Russia’s Air Defence Forces. The missile system’s ability to fire interceptors at over Mach 15 will allow it to intercept lower end hypersonic munitions travelling at around Mach 5 - placing it well ahead of all foreign competitors. The S-500 will also be capable of engaging targets at extreme altitudes of 95km (the highest flying widely used combat aircraft, the MiG-31 Foxhound, does not often fly at over 21km), allowing it to engage enemy satellites, while also placing it in a strong position to intercept enemy intercontinental ballistic missiles in space.