S-500

The S-500 Prometey/Prometheus is the first Russian air and space defense system being developed to counter ballistic and hypersonic threats that could exist beyond 2020. As of summer 2009, the S-500 is in the blueprint stage an is expected to be rolled out in 2012. Designed to outperform the S-400 air defense system, it will provide the unique ability to shoot down hypersonic aircraft above 30,000 meters of altitude. The S-500 air-space defense system would be fully operational with the Russian Air Force by 2020. A new family of missiles will replace 48N6E2/E3 missiles, associated with S-300 and S-400 air defense systems, as the silver bullets of the Russian air defense systems. The S-500 missiles are related to the Bulava and Topol thermal technology developments and are intended to climb faster achieving awesome speeds of Mach 10 and ranges in excess of 600 kilometers. The whole S-500 system represents an entire new development not based on previous missile weapon systems. The Mars mobile advanced radar system has been identified as a key sensor associated with the S-500 missile system. The advanced radar system will make possible to engage stealth and unmanned aircraft as well as ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles and low Earth satellites. The S-500 was first deployed in a combat mission in Crimea in June 2024. The Russian Army original goal was to deploy 10 S-500 systems but due to the Ukraine war escalation that number may have increased to 20-60 with the aim of replacing the legacy S-300 missile systems within a decade (2030-2035). The S-500 seems to refer an air defense variant intended to counter airborne threats while the S-550 is the system optimized to counter ICBMs. The maximum range of the S-500/S-550 interceptors may have been understated with the actual system being able to neutralize targets at distances in excess of 600 kilometers and altitudes far above 200 kilometers.

deagel.com: https://www.deagel.com/x/x/a002423