Air defense

The S-500 was adopted by the Russian army back in 2021, but Prometheus was presented publicly for the first time. The system can provide long-term air defense against a wide range of air threats.

The S-500 is a road mobile system built on a BAZ-69096 chassis with 10×10 transport and installation launchers. The S-500 is likely to replace the A-135 missile defense system to protect Moscow and the surrounding area. In addition, the S-500 will be an addition to the existing S-400 Triumph system.

What is known about the S-500

One of the characteristics of the S-500 is its flexibility – it can be configured to launch different missiles. This allows it to deal with different threats at different ranges and heights.

According to the developers, the S-500 can successfully destroy both aerodynamic and ballistic targets.

Among them:

• medium-range missiles;
• intercontinental ballistic missiles;
• hypersonic cruise missiles;
• low-orbit military satellites;
• drone attack;
• Enemy strategic aircraft.

The S-500 radar system is capable of detecting targets at distances of up to 800 km, their engagement radius reaches 600 km, and altitude – up to 250 km. It is said to have the latest sixth generation electronic warfare equipment, which can completely suppress the electronic equipment of targets.

The development of the S-500 began back in 2009, but so far the Russians have not been able to establish mass production of the systems. The first brigade set of S-500 Prometheus was delivered to the 15th Special Forces Army of the Russian Aerospace Forces in October 2021. It is responsible for the defense of Moscow and the central region of Russia.

S-500 in Crimea

At the beginning of June 2024, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense, Kirill Budanov, said that the Russians had introduced elements of the S-500 anti-aircraft missile system into Crimea. However, according to the spokesman of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ilya Yevlash, Ukraine did not register the use of S-500 air defense systems by the Russians.

Later, the head of the SBU Vasily Malyuk said that Ukraine is always working on the issue of destroying enemy equipment and Russian air defenses. Then it was said that the use of the S-500 in Crimea would be experimental.

Although it became clear at the end of February this year that the Russians had tested the S-500, and the complex showed the ability to shoot at “hypersonic air targets.”

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