S-500 Almaz Antey air defense missile system Russian army in 2019 11307172

Defense & Security News - Russia
 
Russian armed forces to receive new Almaz-Antey S-500 air defense missile systems in 2019.
The Russian Company Almaz-Antey Concern will begin series deliveries of the S-500 air defense missile system to the Russian armed forces in 2019, writes the online media outlet Free Press citing Alexander Vedrov, Deputy CEO of the Concern for Production and Technology Policy.
     
The Russian Company Almaz-Antey Concern will begin series deliveries of the S-500 air defense missile system to the Russian armed forces in 2019, writes the online media outlet Free Press citing Alexander Vedrov, Deputy CEO of the Concern for Production and Technology Policy.
Scale model of S-500 TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) air defense missile system.
     
The S-500 and its predecessor, the S-400 system, which is already in service, is a grandiose project. The Nizhny Novgorod Machine-Building Plant named after the 70th anniversary of the Victory was specially built to manufacture these and future air and missile defense systems. It cost 45 billion rubles to build.

When developing air/missile defense systems, Almaz-Antey Concern follows a way that is different from what American designers do in this area. The newest version of the U.S. Patriot PAC-3 SAM system uses only one missile, which has to intercept both aerodynamic (airplanes and cruise missiles) and ballistic targets.

The S-500 has a significant "arsenal" of interceptor missiles. At the same time, the interceptor missiles for aerodynamic and ballistic targets are strictly separated. Moreover, the S-500 is, in fact, two different SAM systems that have, perhaps, only a common power supply system. Each subsystem has its own active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar adapted to detect and track its class of targets.

Each new air/missile defense system developed at Almaz-Antey is an advanced version of the previous ones, from which it inherits the most effective controls, sensors and weapons. The S-500 uses the S-400 Triumph’s missiles designed to intercept aerodynamic targets. They have different range, intercept altitude, speed and dynamics. Each missile is most tailored to engage its class of targets.

Three missiles were designed specifically for the S-500. The most lethal missile, designed to counter aerodynamic targets, is the 40N6M, which has a range of 600 km. The range of the THAAD missile is 200 km, i.e., one-third as long.

Two more new missiles were developed at the Fakel Design Bureau for engaging ballistic targets. It is only known that they are effective against not only medium-range ballistic missiles, but also ICBMs in the midcourse and terminal phases of their trajectory. Moreover, they are capable of countering not only the missiles themselves, but also low-signature detachable warheads, whose radar cross-section does not exceed 0.1 square meters. Moreover, the target speed may reach 7 km/s.
     
© Copyright 2017 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.