Russians test S-500 system allegedly capable of intercepting hypersonic targets

What the Russians say

Supposedly, during these tests, the S-500 system demonstrated the ability to shoot down hypersonic aerial targets. As an example, they cite prospective Western hypersonic missiles, combat units of intercontinental ballistic missiles, or guided warheads, as well as short-range ballistic missiles.

Russia claims that such capabilities of the S-500 were supposedly confirmed during the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile from the Tula nuclear-powered submarine of the Russian Northern Fleet, which was launched in the Laptev Sea.

Russian authorities attribute the successful destruction of targets to powerful radars, electronic computing systems, and "highly maneuverable anti-aircraft missiles."

Questions raised by journalists

The material writes that Russians have made an interesting claim for the first time. If previously they only spoke about anti-missile missiles of the 77N6 family, now they claim that the new complex also integrates the 40N6 anti-aircraft missile from the S-400 system.

"However, overall, Russian propagandists have placed rather paradoxical accents in the history of their S-500 Prometheus. Supposedly, this complex can shoot down prospective hypersonic missiles that are not yet available to Western countries," the material says.

Attention was also drawn to the fact that they only now, in February 2024, conducted important tests of the S-500 Prometheus complex, the supply of which allegedly began in 2022.

What else is known about the S-500

Among publicly available information, it is noted that the Russian anti-aircraft missile system is a new generation of anti-aircraft missile systems, which are expected to apply the principle of separate resolution of tasks for the destruction of ballistic and aerodynamic targets.

As early as 2021, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov claimed that the S-500 system was allegedly in serial production. There are also plans to develop a naval version of the promising S-500 anti-aircraft missile system, including for installation on the Storm aircraft carrier project.

State of air defense forces in Russia

Previously, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, stated that during the war, Russia transferred air defense systems from the Far East and the Northern Region to Moscow and the occupied Crimea. However, the power of defense does not always correspond to the aggressor's statements.

The representative of the military intelligence reported that the most powerful complex they have in service is the S-400, but even it is not entirely perfect.

"There are cases when their equipment fails. The well-known Pantsir also misses our aircraft, which ultimately reach their targets," he added.