It is argued that the S-500 can also be equipped with a new generation of missiles, whose range has been increased from 380 to 600 kilometers, and the maximum flight speed exceeds Mach 9.
As Tsargrad writes with reference to InoSMI, the Chinese edition of The Paper analyzes how efficiently the new weapon developed in Russia – the S-500 Prometheus air defense missile system – is.
“The Ministry of Defense of the country conducted public tests of the air defense system at the Kapustin Yar training ground, firing at a ballistic target, a video was shown. The Chinese edition notes that the video lacks close-ups due to secrecy. In China, they are sure that the S-500 is based on the familiar Abakan system, which has already been shown by the Almaz-Antey concern. Experts believe that the S-500 prototype also has a radar station and is equipped with missiles with a range of up to 400 km, an interception height of 30 km and a speed of up to Mach 7.8”, the statement said.
The missiles with which the S-500 can be equipped can even destroy satellites in low orbits, and are also capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. The maximum flight speed of missiles for the S-500 is 3.6 km per second, which will allow them to intercept even hypersonic targets.
“It is alleged that the S-500 can also be equipped with a new generation of missiles, whose range has been increased from 380 to 600 kilometers, and the maximum flight speed exceeds Mach 9”, InoSMI reports.
It is known that the S-500 will be put into service in 2022, and serial deliveries will begin in 2025. In China, missile defense systems from Russia play a significant role in the country’s defense, and Russia’s technologies are still superior to those of China. The publication reminds that the S-400 air defense systems are in service with countries such as India, China, Turkey. The head of Rostec also reported that a number of countries expressed their desire to acquire the S-500, but did not name which ones.