Russia has confirmed that its first air and missile defense regiment armed with the S-500 Prometheus system has officially entered combat service.
Operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces, the S-500 is designed to counter a broad spectrum of long-range and high-altitude threats, including fifth-generation fighter aircraft, low-Earth-orbit satellites, as well as ballistic and cruise missiles.
Development of the S-500 began in 2010, following the deployment of the initial S-400 systems in 2007. According to Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency, the system was conceived to complement the S-400 and other layered air defenses by bridging the gap between tactical air defense and strategic missile defense capabilities.
Produced by Almaz-Antey, the S-500 can be equipped with either four 40N6M long-range surface-to-air missiles or two 77N6 interceptor missiles, all mounted in launch canisters on a mobile platform. The 40N6M missile reportedly has a reach of up to 400 kilometers, while the 77N6 interceptor family extends engagement ranges to approximately 600 kilometers.
The system’s radar suite integrates long-range surveillance radars with specialized engagement radars, allowing for rapid detection, tracking, and interception of high-speed, high-altitude targets. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), each battery includes four radar vehicles, enabling detection of ballistic targets at distances of up to 2,000 kilometers and airborne targets at roughly 800 kilometers.
