The S-500 system goes to the troops. Protection and containment
S-500 launcher at the Kapustin Yar test site, July 2021
Work on the promising S-500 Prometheus anti-aircraft missile system has been successfully completed, it entered serial production and is now supplied to the troops. With the help of the new air defense system, they are now strengthening the air and missile defense of Moscow and the Central Industrial Region, and in the future other regions may receive similar protection.
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At the end of May, President Vladimir Putin announced that more than 70% of the anti-aircraft missile regiments from the aerospace forces were transferred to modern S-400 systems. He also noted that the troops should soon receive a new S-500 air defense system, the tests of which were successfully completed at that time. Later, in July, the Ministry of Defense announced a test firing of a new air defense system at the Kapustin Yar range. The tested products have confirmed the calculated technical and combat characteristics.
In August, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov, in charge of the defense complex, spoke about the start of serial production of the new S-500. In mid-September, he announced the recent completion of state tests and the beginning of the supply of equipment to the troops. However, not yet the entire range of requested products is being supplied.
On October 13, TASS revealed some details of the current activities, obtained from a source close to the Ministry of Defense. He claims that the first S-500 brigade set has been transferred to the troops. Its operation is entrusted to the 15th Special Forces Army, which is responsible for protecting the capital region. The source also pointed out that the Ministry of Defense and industry have signed a "multi-year contract." In accordance with it, in the first half of next year, the army will receive a second brigade set of equipment.
Soon Gazeta.ru made some clarifications, citing a source close to the defense industry. He noted that the 15th Special Forces is responsible for the work of the orbital group and does not solve air defense problems. According to him, the S-500 entered the 1st Air Defense and Special Purpose Missile Defense Army - it is she who uses modern anti-aircraft systems and provides the defense of Moscow.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Defense or the military-industrial complex does not confirm or deny the latter news from the media. The last statements of officials on the subject of "Prometheus" took place in mid-September - then they talked about the start of deliveries, but without specifying the connections-operators.
Rearmament began
Thus, the last weeks or months have seen the processes that had been expected during the entire previous decade. The newest anti-aircraft system S-500 "Prometheus" is finally entering the troops, being mastered by the personnel and preparing for full-fledged combat duty. So far, we are talking only about the first set, but its transfer is of great importance for defense.
According to known data, two air defense divisions from the 1st air defense-missile defense army operate modern S-400 systems and the latest modifications of the S-300P line. There are also "Pantsir-S1" products, which are responsible for covering the main armament. Now the 1st Special Forces receives the latest systems that outperform the available ones in terms of their characteristics weapon... This retooling will have obvious positive consequences.
Production of "Prometheus" began not so long ago and managed to release only a limited number of items. In addition, as the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out, not all the funds of this system are ready for delivery to the troops. In view of such restrictions, the S-500 is still supplied to only one air defense and missile defense army, which is responsible for protecting the most important region of the country.
In the future, when the 1st Air Defense-ABM Army receives all the kits it needs, the re-equipment of units of other formations in other regions will have to begin. This approach was used in the past during the transition to the S-300P and S-400 and has proven itself well.
However, the required number of new anti-aircraft systems and the timing of their release remain unknown. We can only assume that the transition to such a technique will take more than one year - as was the case with previous systems of a similar purpose.
New opportunities
Almost all the tactical, technical and combat characteristics of the S-500 system are classified and have not yet been announced. At the same time, officials and unofficial sources have disclosed some of the information to date. Some such information is reliable and corresponds to the current state of affairs, it is unknown. However, they also allow us to draw some conclusions.
According to known data, the new S-500, like its predecessors, is a multicomponent system that includes all the necessary tools with improved characteristics. So, there are own radar facilities for tracking the air situation within a radius of hundreds of kilometers. Data processing and fire control is carried out by its own command post. Integration of air defense systems into general air defense-missile defense circuits for receiving and transmitting data on air targets is provided.
Like the previous air defense systems, "Prometheus" is designed to combat aerodynamic and ballistic targets in a wide range of ranges and altitudes. Earlier it was reported that the system includes several types of missiles designed to combat different targets and at different ranges. At the same time, the maximum interception range was increased to 500 km, which is reflected in the project index.
In foreign publications, it is mentioned with obvious concern that the S-500 with the help of a special missile will be able to solve anti-space defense tasks. A fundamentally new weapon will be able to attack spacecraft in low orbits.
Modern materiel of the 1st Air Defense Army
In general, the S-500 air defense system continues the logic of the development of domestic long-range object air defense systems, but uses modern components and solutions. In addition, it is possible to obtain fundamentally new opportunities. Due to this, the new system surpasses all domestic and foreign developments of its class in all basic parameters and overall potential.
A deterrent
Improved performance in terms of detection and destruction, as well as the proposed new functions make the promising "Prometheus" a unique means of air and missile defense. The deployment of such a system provides protection for a large area from a variety of air attack weapons, ballistic missiles, and even spacecraft. At the same time, the S-500 will not work alone and will become part of an echeloned multi-component defense with extremely high indicators of overall efficiency.
By deploying the received S-500s, the Russian Aerospace Forces will be able to strengthen the defenses, first of Moscow and the Central Industrial Region, and then of other regions. Accordingly, any attempt at an air or missile attack from a potential enemy into protected areas will lead to a massive loss of aviation and other technology and is actually doomed to failure.
Thus, as the troops are saturated and put on duty, the latest S-500 Prometheus anti-aircraft systems - like their predecessors in the past - will not only provide protection against a hypothetical attack, but will also warn the enemy against aggression. Such a deterrent will have a positive effect both on Russia's national security and, probably, on the general military-political climate in the European region. And the first steps towards this have already been taken.
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