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| Wednesday,
February 8, 2012, 07:57 AM |
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| Delivery
of new Russian Almaz-Antey S-500 air defense missile system delayed unitil
2017. |
Russia’s
Almaz-Antey concern will finish the development of the advanced S-500
air defense system by 2017, two years later than the deadline announced
earlier, the company’s General Director Vitaly Neskorodov said. |
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The S-500 is
a new generation surface-to-air missile system, designed for intercepting
intercontinental ballistic missiles and for defense against Airborne Early
Warning and Control, Airborne Warning and Control System, and jamming
aircraft. It is not an upgraded version of the S-400. |
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The
S-500, a long-range air defense missile system, is expected to become
the backbone of a unified aerospace defense system being formed in Russia.
Neskorodov said in an interview with Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper on
Monday that the complexity of technical solutions used in this unique
system and some management problems led to the delay in the development.
“We have to step up the work and make up for lost time,” he
said. “Nevertheless, we will have prototypes of several components
of the system ready for testing by the end of 2012.”
Russian officials provide sketchy details on the technical characteristics
of the new system.
The S-500 will reportedly have an extended range of up to 600 kilometers
(over 370 miles) and simultaneously engage up to 10 targets.
The Russian military has demanded that the system must be capable of intercepting
ballistic missiles and hypersonic cruise missiles and plans to order at
least ten S-500 battalions for the future Russian Aerospace Defense.
The S-500 could become a trump card in Russia’s response to the
U.S.-backed European missile shield, which Moscow believes may threaten
Russia’s nuclear deterrent.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has proposed setting up a
government body responsible for consolidating efforts aimed at the creation
of an effective aerospace defense network in the country.
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