Between the US and Turkey are still rampant disagreement over the purchase of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems s-400 (Washington, insists that Turkey has not taken them on Board). Meanwhile, Russia has long been, for many years, creates something even more powerful and advanced…
At the time the s-300 systems made a revolution in air defense and still have a reputation for unstoppable, although they are used for a long time — since 1978 (they were developed in the 60s in the USSR). Then came s-400 (for the Russian army they are from 2007), advanced in all respects of the system that embodies the evolution of the concept, which drew rave reviews. But that’s not all. For many years, or rather since 2009, the Russian engineers are working on a new, even more powerful complex. It is, of course, about s-500, which is called “Prometheus”.
What is s-500 will outperform the s-400, and when is completion? System s-500 is ready and tested. Began production, however while the s-500 entered service with the Russian army. It will happen next year.
Some of the important information revealed, the engineer who works on a project-500, Pavel Sozinov. He said that to put the the Russian army is planned in 2021, and the main “improvement” of the C-500 is that the zone of its action is not “this world”, and space. That is, the system can hit targets that are within a few hundred kilometers above the Earth’s surface where formally begins the space.
Of course, the fact that the C-500 is designed with a similar calculation predicts where in the future will be wars in space. Its main purpose will be hypersonic missiles that will threaten to and from orbit.
The commander of aerospace forces of the Russian Federation Sergey Surovikin said that according to its specifications s-500 system is a “first generation space defense”. Surovikin also noted that the s-500 is unique.
The objectives of the system s-500 “Prometheus”, known as 55Р6М “Triumfator-M”, included the destruction of Intercontinental ballistic missiles, but primarily it is designed to destroy medium-range missiles. I recall that after the U.S. withdrawal from the INF Treaty last year started a new arms race, and soon, “on stage” may be a new medium-range weapons.
I again briefly remind you about the importance of the INF Treaty, which operated from 1988 until last 2019 (interestingly, the US decision to withdraw from it was adopted under strong pressure former adviser to trump national security John Bolton; and although he had already left his post, becoming the enemy of the trump, it’s not like the American President was going to discuss the resumption of the INF Treaty). This Treaty forbade the United States and Russia, or rather in the USSR to apply the medium-range missiles. Why is it so important? Because their range is from one thousand to three thousand kilometers, that is, their prohibition is guaranteed (or at least hope) that the future location of the next conflict will not be back to Europe.
After abandoning the INF Treaty, the US has the opportunity (alone or through NATO) to place medium-range missiles in Europe. The Russians will react to this very strongly, because, from the Russian point of view, such actions directly threaten their security, and ultimately life.
In this regard, it can be expected that particular attention will be paid to the ability of the C-500 to destroy medium-range missiles, as it is with them and also with the Russian space connects future threats.
The s-500 is not yet fully completed, but already it was tested in 2018 and 2019. According to data from open sources, now under final revision, to system entered service with the Russian army already in 2021.
Interestingly, although officially on the C-500 has worked since 2009, the very “idea” probably appeared much earlier. In the 60-ies, but rather in 1968, the Soviet Union were the development of the system called the s-500U, and in addition to the name, with a modern s-500 her mother similar characteristics. Had already thought about hitting the targets at high altitude. In the end, the Soviet army abandoned the project, requesting a weapon that can destroy not only aircraft but also short-range missiles: so there was a complex With-300. However, some ideas related to the C-500 really began 50 years ago.
What will happen with the previous version of s — 400? It is planned that the s-500 will “serve” in parallel with the systems s-400, which in the near future to replace s-300. The first samples of the s-500 will be placed in strategic locations: near Moscow, and then across the Central part of Russia.
Plans were also creating modifications of the C-500 for the Russian Navy. She was about to be set on new Russian destroyer type “Leader”. However, in April of this year, Russia refused the construction of two new destroyers like “Leader”, probably for economic reasons (building one would cost about a hundred billion rubles, about 1.2 billion euros).
According to the head of the Russian Corporation rostec (Russian state Agency for the development, production and export of advanced technological equipment), production of the s-500 began about a year ago (30 June 2019).
According to unofficial data, obtained from sources close to us intelligence, the first tests of s-500 were held in may 2018. Was then successfully hit the target at a distance of 482 kilometres (which is 80 kilometers higher than the previous record).
As for official figures, it is reported that the range s-500 reaches 600 kilometers. The complex will be able to detect and simultaneously destroy ten hypersonic ballistic missiles. In addition to simple planes, the system can effectively deal with different types of unmanned aerial vehicles. Of course, of particular interest are the “space” of possible s-500. According to the manufacturer, the system can even destroy low-orbit satellites, and other threats emanating from the Earth’s orbit.
Improved the speed of action of the complex. It is reported that s-500 will need only four seconds or less to detect and defeat the purpose. This is more than twice the time of “response” of its predecessor, the s-400, which then had ten seconds.
Are the C-500 to export? Possible. Turkey, which has purchased Russian s-400 have already expressed interest in s-500, although it is clear that the supply will largely depend on the political situation (don’t be surprised if in the near future Turkey will try to “solve the problem” of s-400 in exchange for certain American preferences, such as, for example, support for its foreign policy goals in Libya).
Russia today is undoubtedly the leading power in terms of missile and anti-missile technologies. How long this will last, time will tell. But one thing is clear: in the future, not so distant, space will become the new front. Unfortunately, this does not mean that while on Earth there will be peace. On the contrary, all “brought” to the space and has a military purpose, would threaten life on Earth.
