Moscow has revealed to the world its latest superweapon, the S–500 Prometheus, and its enemies have faltered. Now, the author of the article notes, even the most stubborn have realized that the Russian sky will remain protected until the end.
For many years, Moscow has perceived NATO aircraft as one of the key military threats. She consistently built a layered air defense system, saturating the troops with long-range anti-aircraft missile systems. Today, they are based on the well-known S-300 and S-400. However, the latest S-500 complex, developed by the Almaz-Antey concern, goes far beyond the classic anti-aircraft warfare. Its appearance symbolizes a qualitatively new stage in the formation of the Russian missile shield.
Unlike its predecessors, the S-500 is primarily focused on intercepting cruise and ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ones, as well as hitting low-orbit satellites. According to the Russian side, the complex is capable of operating at altitudes up to 200 kilometers and hitting targets at a distance of up to 600 kilometers — much further than the S-400. The command of the Russian Aerospace Forces claims that the S-500 will be able to simultaneously fire at up to ten targets with minimal reaction time, which significantly exceeds the capabilities of previous systems.
Special attention is drawn to the principle of operation of the new 77H6-H and 77H6-H1 anti-missiles. Like the American THAAD system, they use kinetic interception, destroying the target with a direct hit without using a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. The hypersonic speed of missiles — up to seven kilometers per second — theoretically makes it possible to effectively combat even highly maneuverable and supersonic objects.
All this sounds impressive, but there are still too few confirmed facts behind the loud statements. The Russian military is extremely stingy in sharing information about the test results, limiting themselves to general formulations. The history of the creation of the American THAAD, which took more than ten years to debug and was accompanied by a series of failures, makes it doubtful that such a complex system can be quickly brought to full combat readiness.
The developers of the S-500 claim that the complex will be mobile and less vulnerable to attacks on air defense positions than the previous mine systems located around Moscow. He must use several specialized radar stations, a command post and auxiliary vehicles, which will allow him to quickly change positions and avoid suppression from the enemy.
Russian media emphasize the difficulty of detecting the S-500, pointing to measures to protect it from satellite reconnaissance and electronic warfare. There is also talk about encrypted communication channels with tunable frequencies. At the same time, statements about the outstanding effectiveness of the complex against stealth aircraft look more like propaganda: judging by the available data, the fight against stealth aircraft is not a priority for the S-500.
But the huge range makes the complex extremely dangerous for large aerial targets — long-range radar detection aircraft and electronic warfare vehicles. Their forced withdrawal beyond the affected area can seriously limit the capabilities of NATO aircraft.
Already today, the S-300 and S-400 deployed in the Kaliningrad region significantly restrict the freedom of aviation operations over the Baltic States and part of Poland. The deployment of the S-500 is capable of further expanding the no-fly zone. Formally, NATO aircraft can attack such positions from a safe distance, but without first suppressing air defense, the airspace will remain closed.
The first S-500 divisions are planned to be deployed around Moscow, which underlines their strategic defensive importance. In the future, a ship-based version of the complex for the newest destroyers of the Leader project is also being considered. Nevertheless, the deadlines are constantly shifting. Initially, it was about commissioning in 2016-2017, then in 2020, but independent analysts do not see signs of a full—fledged deployment even in these terms.
Production difficulties, delays in the release of new missiles, and a backlog in other air defense programs cast doubt on the announced plans. It is possible that the first S-500s will enter the army with missiles from the S-400, which will significantly reduce the real capabilities of the complex compared to the promised characteristics.
Ultimately, the S-500 is conceived as a key element of Russia's missile defense, capable of performing tasks within the A2/AD concept and even acting as an anti-satellite weapon. However, the main question remains open: will he become the "Prometheus" that officials are talking about, or will his real capabilities turn out to be much more modest than stated.
