The new Russian S-550 anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) will become the world's first mobile specialized anti-missile (missile defense) and anti-space defense system, RIA Novosti writes with reference to sources in the military-industrial complex.
The weapon is being created on the basis of the S-500 Prometheus. According to experts, the new air defense system will specialize in anti-missile and anti-space defense tasks.
"The development capabilities for intercepting ballistic missile warheads of various ranges, mainly intercontinental, as well as space attack weapons will be much higher than those of the S-400 and S-500, as well as American THAAD and Aegis missile defense systems with SM-3block llB missiles," one of the specialists revealed the possibilities. The second source confirmed this information and stated that the work is "at an advanced stage."
On November 9, it became known that a new anti-aircraft missile system will appear in Russia. Specialists from the Ministry of Defense of the country held a number of meetings with the head of state Vladimir Putin. The President made "a special emphasis on the importance of advancing the development of domestic systems, supplies to the army S-350, S-500, S-550." The department did not provide any other information about the new system.
Also at a meeting with Putin, it became known that in the near future the first serial sample of the S-500 will be sent to the troops.
Aliya Sharafutdinova