Last month, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu revealed that Moscow would complete its missile defense systems modernization efforts by the end of 2023. Russia began prioritizing its aerospace defense capabilities in 2020, when the Kremlin announced its State Armament Program. Under the latest iteration of the program, dubbed GPV-2027 in Russia, the production of the new S-500 system will be accomplished.
Russia’s latest anti-aircraft missile defense system, “Prometheus,” is expected to become a staple of the Kremlin’s aerospace defense system. The combat capabilities of the Prometheus reportedly blows its predecessor’s abilities out of the water. However, while Moscow may claim that this new system could easily take down fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 Raptor or the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, little remains confirmed about the S-500.
A brief history of the S-500
Back in 2010, Moscow began developing the successor to the first batch of S-400 systems deployed a few years prior. Like the earlier S-300 and S-400 models, Prometheus was designed to be capable of defeating ballistic and cruise missile threats. The newer variant, however, was also intended to counter fifth-generation airframes and low orbit satellites- capabilities its predecessors could not achieve. Since the S-500’s design conception, multiple delays have hindered the system’s introduction to service.
Alleged specs and capabilities
The new S-500 system consists of four 40N6M long-range surface-to-air missiles or two 77N6 interceptors in tubes mounted on a launch vehicle. According to the Center for International and Strategic Studies, the 40N6M long-range missiles can travel at a range of 400km, while the 77N6 series interceptors can reach roughly 600 km. “The system features four radar vehicles per battery, including the 91N6E(M) S-band acquisition radar, 96L6-TsP C-band acquisition radar, 76T6 multi-mode engagement radar, and 77T6 anti-ballistic missile engagement radar.9 This radar complex reportedly allows the S-500 to detect ballistic and airborne targets at up to 2,000 and 800 km, respectively.”
In addition to these threats, Russian officials have proclaimed that the Prometheus possesses the stealth technology required to take down next-generation fighter jets including the American-made F-22 Raptors and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. Head engineer of the S-500 Pavel Sozinov explained that the new system “neutralizes American offensive weapons and surpasses all of America’s much-hyped anti-air and anti-missile systems.” While this ability would be a danger to U.S. airframes, it has been impossible for the public to independently verify these claims. Since the Kremlin is notorious for exaggerating its weapons capabilities, it is very possible that the Prometheus is not as big of a technological leap forward from its predecessor as Russia would like the world to believe.
Moscow could be exaggerating the S-500’s abilities
Just as the S-500’s true capabilities remain murky, so does the system’s production timeline. Last spring, the CEO of the system’s manufacturer Almaz-Antey announced that the Prometheus had already entered mass production. One year prior, however, a Kremlin official stated that the system’s serial production would not commence until 2025 earliest.
Over the last fourteen-plus months, Moscow has drained many of its resources, materials and funds on its offensive war efforts in Ukraine. Since the Kremlin is already strapped with cash, the imminent mass production of its newest air-defense system seems unlikely.
Maya Carlin, a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
Rick
April 21, 2023 at 4:18 pm
Based on current history the world has nothing to fear from a broken down country with a failed army.
Dan Farrand
April 21, 2023 at 5:30 pm
“many of its resources, materials and funds on its offensive war efforts in Ukraine. Since the Kremlin is already strapped with cash, the imminent mass production of its newest air-defense system seems unlikely.”
Whatever credibility you have is sacrificed by your last paragraph. You can’t help trying to improve your woke score by throwing “offensive” in there in front of “war”. Do you considers Israels 6 Day war preemptive attack “offensive” war ? Do you call it the “6 Day War” or do you always reference it as the “Offensive 6 Day War” ?
In a time of war, over causes the Russians have reasonably identified as existential, do important defense projects normally have trouble getting funded ? On the contrary, Russia’s proxy war with Nato probably means funding for S400 and other projects is increasing. S500 would likely be a key element in defeating Nato and war with Nato is now a high probability event. After Ukraine, Russia may feel compelled to seriously confront Finland since Finland foolishly abandoned the neutrality it worked so hard to gain. In that case, were I Russia, S500 would be one of my main priorities.
You tell us, with seeming confidence that Russia is “strapped for cash”, while offering no evidence for that. Last I read in Bloomberg, Russian cash reserves were at all time highs. Inflation in Russia is lower than in most of the west. Interest rates are declining and production is increasing. Russia still has an almost pristine balance sheet and an industrial partner in China who can help them with any parts they may need.
Cheburator
April 22, 2023 at 2:18 am
Are you aware that Russia has thousands of air defense launchers – like S300, S400, S500?
the most modern US air defense system THAAD is, according to known characteristics, the C300 tax released about 40 years ago,
Patriot, in the most modern modification in terms of characteristics, is an analogue of the SA-15 Gauntlet.
while the number of air defense systems in Russia is ten times greater than the total number of air defense systems in NATO countries?
Dave
April 22, 2023 at 3:38 am
Dan clearly works for the Kremlin. Hopefully he will turn on his Russian puppet masters once they lose their “offensive” war with Ukraine.
Slava Ukraine!!!
Spylake
April 22, 2023 at 5:58 am
Stealth decreases the radius of the bubble within which a particular sensor system can detect, identify and then target an enemy. Better stealth shrinks the radius and better sensors expand the radius. It is reasonable to assume the S500 stretches the bubble over the S400. It is nonsense to say the S500 magically negates stealth.
When you factor in terrain, weather, battle space awareness and intel (i.e. identifying, cataloging and avoiding air defense systems), continuing western technical improvements and active countermeasures, the needle will probably not move in Russia’s favor anytime soon.
Russia’s inability to achieve air dominance over the Ukraine is all the evidence one needs to accept this fact. Gone are the days when Russian sycophants can boast online about Russian Military Supremacy. The world knows the comical truth now.
Everyone, including Russia, should be more concerned about China.
This article is banal clickbait that adds no new insight to the topic.
Cheburator
April 22, 2023 at 9:23 am
Spylake
In fact, Russia has achieved air superiority over Ukraine, when is the last time you hear about the successful use of aviation by Ukraine?
It’s just that Russia sees no reason to arrange carpet bombing of cities, this is a war crime, but NATO has done this more than once.
Precise systemic strikes are being carried out on military targets. The Russian command sees no point in more aggressive actions.
Andy Poulton
April 22, 2023 at 10:34 am
Just a thought on the word “offensive” @Dan Farrand
It could mean “offensive” in the way that people can take offense but I believe that in this case, Offensive is meant in the sense that Russia was on the offence, i.e in an attacking rather than defensive military pose
Ponas Grafas
April 22, 2023 at 11:10 am
This is a big Nothingburgerski! Russia can’t even deliver the S-400 systems to India. I highly doubt that they can deliver a capable successor to the S-400. Reminiscent of the Nazi Wunderwaffen of 1945 that were never fielded. They will need more microchips from stolen washers or dryers for their military hardware. The title of the article is more of a pipe dream for Putin.
NorEastern
April 22, 2023 at 11:46 am
There is no reason to suspect that the S-500 can take down an F-35 or F-22. If the radars turn on when a stealth fighter is in the proximity they will be eating HARM missiles for lunch. The fighter will then just drop down to 50 feet and get away Scott free.
Lawrence R Smith
April 22, 2023 at 5:26 pm
it seems that fixed site SAMs all suffer a similar vulnerability – reloads – shoot the first volley and then where do the reloads come from and how fast can one reload b4 the next threats appear? maybe the aggressor can time his strikes to appear while reloading
Spylake
April 22, 2023 at 8:19 pm
Cheburator
Dear Soviet Fan Boi. The Ukraine invasion has revealed the truth about Russian Miltary capability, science and strategey.
It sucks and they are a sick joke with Nuclear weapons.
I just hope that this humiliation of Putin’s ego does not make that mad man torch the world.
Brian Foley
April 23, 2023 at 12:23 pm
Taking anything a Russian Minister says takes a shovel full of salt. What the Russians do not know is that the US with its newest NATO partner Sweden have developed a new SEAD missile…the AGM-380. It’s a hypersonic (MACH 10) weapon that locks onto radar emissions through the entire spectrum and homes in it. Before striking the target it releases two dozen warheads capable of destroying or severely damaging antennas and discs. The AGM-380 is only slightly larger than the AIM-260 and it can be carried in the weapons bay of the F-35, the F-15EX can carry eight. The really crazy part is that a single B-2 can carry up to eighty (you read that correctly 80) AGM-380’s. The idea being that NATO uses a combination of drones (Loyal Wingman) to get the air defense systems to “light up”…by the way each loyal wingman can carry four AGM-380 missiles…so the “bad guys” are forced to engage them…and when they do the follow on SEAD element launches against the air defense system. So the “bad guys” have three choices…do nothing and get wiped out, “light up and engage” the first wave of drones and get wiped out by the follow-on SEAD elements or surrender. I’m pretty sure the Russians don’t even want to know about the laser……
Judge
April 24, 2023 at 10:27 am
About time… the Israeli F-35s get bored having blown the hell out of S-400’s….