By: Maya Carlin

The S-500 is undoubtedly an impressive system that should alarm Ukraine and NATO members alike.

While Moscow has been steadily depleting its resources and weapons stockpiles amidst its Ukraine invasion, the next stages for its cutting-edge S-500 air defense system have not been sidelined. In fact, the “Prometheus” reached another milestone last month when the Russian Armed Forces formed its first full regiment equipped with these long-range systems. Russia’s chief of the general staff, General Valery Gerasimov, confirmed that this regiment is nearing full operational readiness, noting that “This system is unlike anything we’ve deployed before.” According to Russian state-run news outlets, the S-500 regiment has already been deployed to safeguard the strategically critical Kerch Bridge, which connects the Russian mainland to the Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea. The Kremlin is hoping its top-tier surface-to-air missile (SAM) system will serve as an invincible shield, protecting its assets from some of the advanced Western-delivered weapons deployed by Ukraine.

Russia’s S-500, nicknamed “Prometheus,” was derived from its Cold War-era predecessor. The S-200 Angara high-altitude SAM system was deployed by the Soviets to defend against adversarial bombers when it became operational in the 1960s. As soon as the Angara was introduced into service, Soviet engineers began conceptualizing a more sophisticated successor. The resulting S-300 system was designed to combat long-range air-based cruise missiles that were emerging as a major threat at the height of the Cold War. Over the years, several subvariants of the SAM were introduced and eventually, the S-400 was successfully tested and entered service with the Russian military in 2007.

Introducing the S-500: Specs and capabilities

Although the S-400 incorporates several key enhancements over its predecessor, the Prometheus is even more lethal. The S-500, claimed to be a “fifth-generation killer” by the Kremlin, was designed to be capable of defeating American fifth-generation platforms like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. The Prometheus consists of four 40N6M long-range SAMs or two 77N6 interceptors in tubes mounted on a launch vehicle. As detailed by the Center for International and Strategic Studies, the 40N6M missiles can travel at a range of up to 400km, while the 77N6 series interceptors can reach approximately 600km. “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. This radar complex reportedly allows the S-500 to detect ballistic and airborne targets at up to 2,000 and 800 km, respectively.” If true, this incredible range would allow the Prometheus to strike far beyond Russia’s borders, perhaps targeting assets that are vital to NATO’s air power.

Moscow has claimed that the S-500 is the only weapon available that is capable of intercepting the country’s Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. While the Kh-47M2 is a formidable weapon allegedly able to carry both nuclear and conventional warheads, the extent of its capabilities has yet to be verified as Moscow has a tendency to overexaggerate the might of its military assets. Regardless of the S-500’s exact specs and capabilities, it is undoubtedly an impressive system that should alarm Ukraine and NATO members alike.

About the Author: Maya Carlin