Take a peek at the Sophistication of the S-500 Prometheus, Russia’s Latest Air Defense System

JAKARTA – The Russian military has a new weapon, namely the S-500 Prometheus missile system. This weapon is believed to be the most modern and powerful air and missile defense system in the world. The presence of this weapon is very important in the midst of the war that continues to rage between Russia and Ukraine which is supported by NATO countries.

“This year, the armed forces will receive the first units of two modified new generation S-500 anti-aircraft missile systems: a long-range anti-aircraft missile system and an anti-aircraft missile system,” said Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as reported by Sputnik.

In addition, Shoigu said he would purchase S-400, S-300V4, Buk-M3, Tor-M2U and new generation radars to strengthen Russia’s integrated air and missile defense shield.

Russia’s air defense forces are responsible for protecting the skies over the world’s largest land mass from enemy threats. Especially after America and Britain agreed to tens of billions of dollars in new weapons aid to Ukraine, including Storm Shadow cruise missiles and ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.

S-500 Prometheus Air Defense System Specifications

The S-500 Prometheus was developed by Almaz-Antey, Russia’s leading manufacturer of missile-based defense systems. Anti-aircraft defense systems and missile it has a range of up to 600 km and can detect targets at a distance of up to 800 km.

The S-500 can simultaneously engage up to 10 supersonic ballistic targets moving at speeds of up to 7 km/s. It can also attack targets flying at hypersonic speeds (up to Mach 10 or 12,348 km/h). The range of the S-500 is sufficient to neutralize enemy missiles, spacecraft and orbital weapons platforms in space in low Earth orbit.

The system’s interceptor missile is maneuverable in flight and carries an independent radar component, enabling it to carry out dynamic attacks. The S-500 has the capability to be integrated into a single air and missile defense network along with the S-400, S-300VM4, S-350 Vityaz and other systems.

Missile Configuration System

The S-500, like other systems in its class, consists not only of a launch vehicle, but also a complex ecosystem of additional equipment that can be combined as needed. That is multiple target acquisition radars, a jammer, a command post, and one or more loading vehicles.

The S-500 is intended for long-range use against missiles, aircraft, and spacecraft, and can hardly be used against short-range threats, so the system ideally targets long-range, high-value targets.

The S-500 configuration includes multiple 77P6 launchers with anti-aircraft and anti-missile missiles. The S-500 differs slightly from the S-400 and other S series launchers in that it has two launcher payloads.
 
The S-500’s guided missiles are specially developed new generation anti-aircraft and anti-missile missiles. According to publicly available information, the missiles used in this system include 4,444 77N6-N and 77N6-N1 interceptor missiles for missile defense and satellite/spacecraft defense as well as 40N6M anti-aircraft missiles.