In July 2021, Russian MOD stated that the nation had successfully test-fired its new S-500
air defense missile systems at a southern training range and hit a high-speed ballistic target.
The MOD also released the first public footage of the live-fire carried out in Kapustin Yar.
While the system has seen considerable delay, it now seems to be close to initial deployment.
Arguably there is a lot of interest in S-500
and some commentary on it suggests that it is an invincible system.
But there is a lot that needs to be dissected to look beyond the hype.
In this video Defense Updates lists 8 facts
about the Russian S-500 Prometey. Let's get into the details
S-500 Prometey is the latest in Russia’s 'S' series air defense system.
It is developed by the Russian state-owned company Almaz-Antey.
While much of S-500 specs remain classified at this time, the publicly available information
suggests that it will be capable of intercepting and attacking a wide variety of targets,
including drones, conventional and stealth aircraft, hypersonic weapons,
ballistic missiles including ICBMs as well as have the ability to take down satellites.
Importantly, it is stated to be not an evolutionary
but a revolutionary upgrade when compared to previous systems.
The missiles are likely to be carried by and launched from
BAZ-69096 trucks with 10x10 configuration. BAZ-69096 is huge when compared to
S-400 's Transporter Erector Launchers and carries only 2 missiles compared to 4 carried by S-400.
This indicates that the missiles will be very large
and hence will likely have a much greater range and be able to reach much higher altitudes.
While S-400 has an engagement range of 400 km
or 250 miles, S-500 is thought to have expanded it to 600 km or around 370 miles.
The S-500s will work with S-400s which is expected to completely replace S-300.
In an integrated air defense environment, S-500 will hook up with other systems including S-400
to form a complex network of air defense umbrellas.
As per reports, S-500 will primarily focus on
Anti Ballistic Missile role in which S-400 has limitations.
The idea is to use these two systems to create an 'Iron Curtain'.
S-400 uses multiple missiles to cover its strike envelop.
The system has 9M96E missile with a short range of 40 km or 25 miles,
9M96E2 missile with a medium range of 120 km or 75 miles, 48N6 missile with a long-range of 250 km
or 155 miles and 40N6 missile with very-long-range 40N6 400 km or 250 miles.
S-500 will also be capable of accommodating
multiple missiles but the nature will be different.
All S-500 missiles will be long-range but some will be meant for Ballistic Missile interception
while others will be geared for taking on aircraft etc.
Systems capable of intercepting ICBMs like
American GMD or Ground-Based Mid Course Defense are not mobile.
This is mainly because of fact that the interceptor missile is very large.
But Russia seems to have found a way to make the missiles less bulky when
compared to Ground-Based Interceptor of GMD enabling them to be carried by TEL.
All other components are also mobile.
Two command posts are planned to be based on BAZ-69092-12
6x6 trucks. Acquisition and battle management radar is planned to be towed by BAZ-6403.01
8x8 tractor truck. Another acquisition radar is planned to be mounted on the BAZ-69096
10x10 chassis. A multi-mode engagement radar is planned to be mounted on BAZ-6909-022 8x8 truck.
The anti-ballistic missile engagement radar is planned to be mounted on BAZ-69096 10x10 chassis.
All of these vehicles have good cross-country mobility.
This means it will be very hard to knock out the S-500 with a preemptive strike.
HGVs or Hypersonic Boost Glide Vehicle are a new crop of weapons.
HGV is launched to extremely high altitudes using Ballistic Missile where it skips
across the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The vehicle then separates from the carrier
and glides back to the earth towards its intended target attaining hypersonic speed.
HGVs combines the speed of ballistic missile & maneuverability of cruise
missiles in a single platform.
The current crop of ballistic missile defense systems
can calculate the trajectory of incoming missiles since they follow a predefined parabolic path.
But with HGV, this tracking methodology will not work and hence are almost impossible to intercept.
S-500 is touted to be capable of defeating HGVs too which makes it the only system of this class.
Satellites are one of the most important assets for a nation. They play a vital role in
civilian and military communications. Military satellites are used for gathering intelligence
as well as they can monitor and provide early warning against missile launches by a rival
nation. Military satellites also provide guidance to missiles, aircraft, warships to name a few.
So, if satellites of a particular nation are destroyed
it will become handicapped in a conflict.
This is why the anti-satellite weapon is seen as a key military capability by the world.
S-500 is thought to possess to be able to work in Anti Satellite Role.
The radars of an Air Defense System are like the eyes.
As per reports, S-500 has seen a lot of work when it comes to radars.
These will be much more powerful compared to what is tagged to S-400.
S-500 system is said to be capable of tracking 5-20 ballistic targets
and intercepting up to 5-10 ballistic targets simultaneously.
This will enable the system to take on a saturation attack from the enemy.