On April 23, Russian Protection Minister, Army Common Sergei Shoigu, made a big announcement. He revealed that Russia’s army forces would begin receiving the most recent S-500 anti-aircraft missile methods in 2024. Apparently, these methods will probably be obtainable in two distinct codecs: ballistic missile protection [BMD] methods and extended-range anti-aircraft missile methods.
This cutting-edge S-500 missile system first caught public consideration in 2015. Again then, it was nonetheless in its design part. Nevertheless, by 2021, the system, named Prometheus, had entered serial manufacturing. In Could of the identical 12 months, Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted that testing was nearing a profitable completion.
An article printed by Izvestia, attributed to a supply throughout the Ministry of Protection, disclosed a big check carried out by the Russian Armed Forces. This check demonstrated the S-500’s capabilities towards hypersonic targets, portray the Prometheus in a really promising mild. On February 22, 2024, the S-500 proved its mettle by precisely participating and destroying an R-29RMU2 Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile. This spectacular present of drive, launched from the Tula nuclear-powered submarine cruising within the Laptev Sea, was intercepted over the Chizha check website, situated within the Arkhangelsk area.
The check
The Russian Ministry of Protection has reported that the S-500 Prometheus efficiently handed all operational benchmarks throughout its analysis, solidifying its capability to deal with each present and future aerial threats. This mastery in managing hypersonic targets marks a big development in air protection expertise, positioning Russia on the forefront of missile protection capabilities.
As a substitute of following within the footsteps of the S-400 Triumph, the S-500 Prometheus is designed to boost it. Intriguingly, the S-500 system can assume command roles for the S-400. In opposition to aerodynamic targets, ultra-long-range 40H6M anti-aircraft missiles, already integrated into the S-400 system, are deployed. Moreover, the 77N6 anti-missiles are used for intercepting ballistic missiles outdoors the Earth’s ambiance, probably in close to area.
About S-500
Recognized alternately because the 55R6M “Triumphator-M”, the S-500 Prometheus represents a brand new era of Russian surface-to-air/anti-ballistic missile methods. Created by the Russian protection firm Almaz-Antey, it’s an enhancement of the S-400 missile system.
The S-500 system boasts a classy and multi-faceted battery structure. It comes geared up with a command middle, radar installations for recognizing, monitoring, and zeroing in on missiles, and launchers particularly engineered for the aim. The sheer stage of mobility it gives is outstanding, due to all its elements being affixed to heavy-duty autos designed for swift deployment and repositioning.
This technique additionally demonstrates the spectacular utility of varied radar methods, every serving a novel operate. One of many important radars is a flexible phased array radar tasked with monitoring aerial objects and ballistic missiles. Enhancing its capabilities, it makes use of a spread of different radar varieties for efficient goal acquisition, missile guiding, and deriving essential suggestions post-launch.
The S-500 additionally delivers when it involves vary, considered one of its most hanging options. Sources counsel it operates over in depth distances; as much as 600 kilometers for aerodynamic targets and a staggering 400 kilometers for ballistic ones. Such prolonged vary allows the S-500 system to vigilantly surveil huge territories, offering a strong protect for key strategic holdings.
The S-500 missile system makes use of two particular missile varieties: the 77N6-N and the 77N6-N1. These modern Russian missiles, geared up with inert warheads, are designed to demolish nuclear warheads by using purely kinetic drive. Their mission is to determine, intercept, and annihilate ballistic missile warheads, hypersonic cruise missiles, and different aerial threats.
Kosmos-1408
It’s reported that Russia has put the S-500 by rigorous testing “in an actual setting”. The check topic was the Russian satellite tv for pc Kosmos-1408, which was destroyed in orbit on November 15, 2021. The impression remodeled the satellite tv for pc into hundreds of items of area particles. In response to this incident, US Area Command expressed their issues, “On November 15, 2021, Moscow Time, Russia carried out a missile check, making a direct trajectory for a satellite tv for pc interception. The missile struck the Russian satellite tv for pc, Kosmos-1408, littering low Earth orbit with particles.”
A later assertion by the command underlined Russia’s ongoing dedication to anti-satellite methods. “These methods pose a big menace to strategic stability, and by extension, to each nation,” acknowledged Dickinson. It’s necessary to keep in mind that there isn’t any concrete proof instantly linking the S-500 to the Kosmos-1408 incident. Nevertheless, a compelling argument has been made by many Russian analysts who consider the S-500 is the prime suspect. BulgarianMilitary.com urges us to maintain an open thoughts on the topic.
S-550?
In 2019, Russian Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu dropped a captivating cue throughout a press occasion. He casually referred to President Putin’s focus on the developments of inside missile and aerial protection methods, particularly mentioning the S-350, S-500, and the fairly less-known S-550 for the army.
At first, business analysts conjectured that the S-550 is perhaps a model of the S-500 with a lesser working vary, akin to the S-350 which is a mid-range missile supposed to complement the extra in depth vary S-300 and S-400 methods. The well-established Russian information company, TASS, stimulated our recollections of the S-550 cellular ballistic missile protection [BMD] system. It was conceptualized throughout 1981-1988 however was by no means formally deployed.
Additional enlightenment got here in a while from Sergei Chemezov on the Dubai Air Present. He elucidated that the aim of the S-550 was to detect and neutralize ballistic missiles from a bigger vary in comparison with the S-500. Moreover, he affirmed the completion of the basic elements wanted to actualize the system.
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