Intercepting such targets is particularly difficult, experts say
The Russian Armed Forces conducted tests of the S-500 Prometheus air defense system, testing the ability to shoot down hypersonic targets with their help, sources told Izvestia in the Russian Defense Ministry. The system has proven that it is capable of tracking and destroying such objects. Moreover, we are talking not only about conventional hypersonic missiles, but also about promising developments. Successful tests are all the more valuable because work on hypersonic objects has its own difficulties, experts pointed out: they are difficult to detect, and they appear on radars when there is not much time left to react.
Hypersound is not a hindrance
The S-500 anti-aircraft missile system has proven its ability to hit hypersonic targets. This happened during the tests, sources told Izvestia in the military department. We are talking about both promising strategic hypersonic aircraft (analogues of the Russian Avangard) and simpler missiles. The tests took place in several stages. Prometheus confirmed that it is capable of escorting and intercepting such targets, the interlocutors of the publication said.
Earlier, the military department reported that the crew of the nuclear-powered missile submarine Tula of the Northern Fleet carried out rocket firing from the Laptev Sea at the Chizha range. The ship was practicing striking one or more ground targets. Thus, he ensured the successful conduct of a military-technical experiment to test the S-500 Prometheus anti-aircraft missile system, the Ministry of Defense reported. Izvestia sent a request to the agency.
— According to its capabilities, the S-500 can work on the warheads of intercontinental ballistic missiles, and they move at hypersonic speed, can work on guided warheads, as well as on similar shorter—range systems, - explained Dmitry Kornev, editor of the Militaryrussia portal. — And besides, this system can control the S-400. Together, they can neutralize almost any air and aerospace threats. That is, Prometheus can shoot down any missile, starting with short-range systems and up to intercontinental ballistic missiles. Including those with hypersonic guided blocks, as well as hypersonic missiles that move at relatively low altitudes at high speeds.
S-500 Prometheus air defense system
Image source: Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
However, at the moment few people can boast of such systems, so for now we cannot say that our S-500 has something to shoot down, the expert stressed. For example, the Americans have just begun the experimental deployment of such ground-based missiles.
According to Dmitry Kornev, success in the fight against hypersonic targets at Prometheus is probably achieved due to new radars and a powerful computing complex. It provides the processing of information from radars and the generation of data for launchers and product guidance. In addition, the system must have highly maneuverable missiles with high flight speed, because only they can hit hypersonic objects.
— The difficulty in intercepting and tracking such targets is that they are relatively small, have such a shape that there must be a powerful radar to accurately track them, — said Dmitry Kornev. — Conventional ballistic missiles can be detected two thousand kilometers away, and the calculation of the anti-aircraft system has a relatively long time at its disposal. The hypersonic target is not moving along a high ballistic trajectory, but along the boundary of the atmosphere. There may be 300, maybe 500 km to its detection, but not two thousand. And the time for work is short, it is necessary to calculate the parameters of its trajectory, launch several missiles to ensure that the target is destroyed, even if it maneuvers.
Modern and efficient
The S-500 Prometheus air defense system remains one of the most closed developments of the domestic defense industry. Officially, the characteristics of the complex have not been published. For the first time, information about it appeared in the media in 2009, but the creation began much earlier. In 2022, information was received about the beginning of deliveries of these systems to the troops.
Prometheus was created to destroy ballistic missiles, and it can also eliminate targets flying at hypersonic speed. It moves on wheels and can be placed on board military transport aircraft. This makes it possible to quickly transfer the system to any point where it is necessary to strengthen air defense and missile defense.
S-500 Prometheus air defense system
Image source: Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The Prometheus ammunition includes different types of missiles. The 40H6S, which are already being equipped with the S-400, will fight aerodynamic targets. It was reported that 77H6 with conventional and special warheads will be used to destroy ballistic missiles in the trans-atmospheric area and in near space.
The S-500 is not intended to replace modern S-400 air defense systems, but to complement them. It should cover the key administrative and industrial centers of the country.
The air defense system will be able to use the S-400 ultra-long-range ammunition already in service. With their help, aircraft can be destroyed at a distance of over 400 km.
The system includes a combat control point, a long-range radar station, an anti-aircraft part, an anti-missile part and a launcher.
Alexey Mikhailov
Roman Kretsul