S-500 - one of 500: Russian Army will add fire, instilling the fear of the United States
Getting hundreds of new types of weapons of the Russian Armed Forces has become customary and ... boring - lethal "Triumphs" are waiting, "Poseidons", "Sarmaty"
The head of the defense department, Sergei Shoigu, reported within the framework of the Single Day of Acceptance of Military Products on more than 500 new and around 50 repaired weapons, military and special equipment. As it appears, the delivery schedule is carried out by defense enterprises without any special failures and at a fairly high pace. The Minister among the novelties mentioned 48 operational-tactical cruise missiles "Caliber", coastal missile system "Bastion", 13 aircraft of various classes, 31 Mi-28 helicopter, Mi-35M and Mi-8 of various modifications, 540 cars "Tiger", Ural and KamAZ. In the announced list - other engineering equipment, means of communication, aviation weapons and ammunition.
expected, what among 500 types of weapons Shoigu will now name the fifth-generation S-500 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system, but the "miracle" did not happen, especially, that the declared date of his entry into the troops is indicated on 2020 year. Nevertheless, "five hundred" is already ready to materialize as if out of thin air and take up starting positions, not replacing, and reinforcing the S-400 and S-300 on duty. About, that the development of the S-500 is nearing completion, The Minister of Defense did not speak again, this was entrusted to the commander of the air and missile defense forces (Air defense and missile defense) - Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces (SCC) Lieutenant General Yuri Grekhov.
In addition to long-range and, As expected, hypersonic S-500 in the near future, the troops are expected to receive the medium-range anti-aircraft missile system S-350 Vityaz. Its tests have already been successfully completed and the first sample should be received by the training center for anti-aircraft missile forces of the Military Academy of East Kazakhstan, stationed in the Leningrad region. By the way, exactly at 2019 year, the first graduation of officers will take place in this academy, who underwent retraining specifically for the management and operation of S-500 systems, which means its presence, even as educational exhibits. It can be assumed, that after the “rocket desk” they will immediately take their place behind the rocket consoles.
The excitement around the S-500 air defense system is not at all accidental - its expected characteristics should surpass all those available in the world among air defense and missile defense systems. And if the United States threw a tantrum to Turkey about Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 "Triumph", not American air defense systems Patriot, then the Pentagon’s superior capabilities of Prometheus are simply shocking.
American analytical magazine The National Interest, known for publications on military-political topics, evaluating the capabilities of the Russian S-500 Prometheus system (55R6M "Triumfator-M"), called this anti-aircraft missile system "awesome". As the publication writes, “this system not only has unprecedented capabilities to defeat high-altitude targets at an exceptionally long range, including ballistic missiles and warheads, but also capable of fighting aircraft, created using stealth technology. The Americans themselves, referring to the opinion of analysts, believe that the Russian "five hundred" is able to effectively withstand the latest F-22 and F-35 aircraft.
A similar reaction occurred in the United States after last year's test of the S-500, during which the system was applied at such a range, which previously seemed impossible 500 kilometers. However, in Russia itself, this new air defense system with huge potential is already being expected from 2011 of the year, when the design was completed, and 2013 Concern "Almaz-Antey" tested individual parts. By the way, code name for the project of new air defense systems, conducted in 2004-2006, was the designation "Lord", which did not stick, giving way to "Prometheus".
There is no point in going into the performance characteristics of the S-500, especially, that almost all of them are classified. From the known - hits targets up to 600 kilometers and resists medium-range ballistic missiles with a range of up to 3500 kilometers, detecting them at a distance of up to 2000 km. The main function of the S-500 air defense system is the fight against medium-range ballistic missiles with a range of up to 3500 km. One S-500 air defense system is capable of simultaneously detecting and hitting up to twenty high-speed air targets. Of all the currently existing anti-aircraft missile systems and systems, including the still unsurpassed Russian S-400 "Triumph", The S-500 will certainly become a leader in this class of weapons..
Russian and foreign analysts agree, that the S-500 air defense system will be primarily designed to destroy objects in near outer space - over 118 kilometers from earth. At such heights, she may have three potential targets: blocks of intercontinental ballistic missiles at the final stage of flight, combat orbital platforms and satellites, in orbit from 200 to 1000 kilometers. In addition, the "five hundred" is also designed to destroy all types of hypersonic missiles., including cruise and ballistic. It is known from open sources, that in the arsenal of long-range missiles S-500 there are missiles of the 40N6M type, with a range of approx. 600 kilometers, and hypersonic 77N6-N (H1). The performance characteristics of the latter are unknown, but we can assume, that they must overcome the speed limit of Mach 4-5 and are capable of shooting down targets, flying at a speed of up to 7 km / sec (about 20 Makhov).
Theoretically, the production of anti-aircraft missile systems of the new generation S-500 "Prometheus" can begin even tomorrow. Furthermore, a year ago, in February, Nizhny Novgorod Machine-Building Plant has already started production of "five hundred". Of course, it was said loudly and there is no finished product at the output yet. It's about cars, semi-trailer, kungs and other "tuning" for anti-aircraft missile systems. Put a rocket - went! But there is no rocket yet - it is “almost ready”.
