Previously, we focused on the performance of the S-400 air defense system on the battlefield in Ukraine, and the evaluation given is that this high-end air defense system has world-class physical performance, but it is limited by the serious backwardness of the Russian electronics industry, and the performance can only be described as mixed. According to the Russian side, the S-400 has set a record for shooting down the Su-27 from a distance of 250 kilometers on the battlefield in Ukraine. However, according to the United States and Ukraine, the S-400, which claims to have powerful anti-missile capabilities, was blown up by an army tactical missile launched by the US Seahorse system during a head-to-head duel and was heavily destroyed. This also proves from one side that although the S-400 has the advantage of a longer range, there is a big gap in the response speed of the entire system compared with the "Patriot", especially the anti-missile capability.
Thinking about the S-400's claim to be the world's No. 1 when it was introduced to the international arms market, it is estimated that it can only be said to have made a big discount so far. In the past few days, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has become a salesman again, announcing that the first batch of samples of the next-generation S-500 air defense and anti-missile system that the Russian Aerospace Forces will accept this year has been officially delivered, which is not only the most advanced long-range air defense and anti-missile defense complex, but also the world's first weapon capable of intercepting hypersonic missiles.
According to reports, the S-500 system, known as the Prometheus air defense system, is designed to eliminate a wide range of threats posed by current and future aerospace technologies at various altitudes and speeds. The design of the system was initially completed in 2011, but its mass production has been delayed several times, with the latest mass production forecast now set for 2025. Despite these setbacks, Russia has announced that the S-500 promises to be a game-changer, capable of countering fifth-generation aircraft, low-orbit satellites and a range of missile threats. Some Russian experts note that the S-500 has undergone rigorous tests to verify its capabilities and is promising for export to traditional markets such as China and India.
Back in May 2018, Russia claimed to have completed "the world's farthest surface-to-air missile test", successfully hitting a target nearly 482 kilometers away, demonstrating the most sophisticated capabilities of its air defense system. Earlier this year, Russia announced that the S-500 effectively tracked and intercepted hypersonic targets, highlighting its flexibility and suitability in an ever-changing security environment.
In addition, its high resilience to electronic jamming enhances its survivability in challenging combat scenarios, ensuring its effectiveness even in the face of complex electronic warfare tactics. Another feature of the S-500 is the ability to launch various types of missiles depending on specific threats and operational requirements, inheriting this advantage of the S-400.
According to details provided by the Center for International and Strategic Studies, the S-500 includes four 40N6M long-range surface-to-air missiles or two, 77N6 interceptor missiles. The 40N6M long-range missile has a range of up to 400 km, while the 77N6 family of interceptor missiles has an even greater range and is capable of reaching about 600 km. The S-500 is equipped with a complex radar complex consisting of four radar vehicles, an S-band acquisition radar, a C-band acquisition radar, a pattern engagement radar, and an anti-ballistic missile engagement radar. These cutting-edge radar systems allow the S-500 to detect ballistic missiles at a distance of up to 2000 kilometers and intercept air threats at a distance of up to 800 kilometers. The Kremlin claims that the S-500 is the only weapon capable of intercepting Russian "hypersonic" missiles, but this myth has been shattered by the American "Patriot".
This raises the question: Can the S-500 really intercept hypersonic missiles? It should have some capabilities, but the bragging component is even greater.
First of all, the backwardness of the Russian electronics industry determines that the S-500 is difficult to compete with the advanced radars of China and the United States in terms of the reaction speed and capabilities of the entire system. Second, the interception of hypersonic missiles and ballistic missiles relies heavily on kinetic impact technology, and the countries that are really powerful, or more technologically mature, are also China and the United States. The reason why the "Patriot" was able to intercept the Dagger was most likely due to the use of kinetic interceptor missiles, which of course is also related to whether the Dagger is a real hypersonic missile. Finally, in order to realistically and effectively intercept hypersonic missiles, it is more difficult to give early warning, and ground-based radar alone is simply not reliable. Since hypersonic vehicles fly in close space, it is possible to carry out combat preparations earlier only by being equipped with high-altitude balloons, space-based satellites, and other early warning means. The S-500 relies on ground-based radars for terminal interception, and when it encounters a real hypersonic missile, there is a high probability that it will play with luck.
In general, war is an important criterion for testing whether weapons are advanced, and if Russia wants to reassure the outside world about the capabilities of the S500, it must first complete several interceptions of the US Army's tactical missiles, otherwise it will not be attractive to China, which has more advanced anti-missile technology.