Russia’s newest “Prometheus” S-500 variant is considered to be top-notch by most analysts.
President Donald Trump had ordered the cessation of U.S. military aid to Ukraine in February, following a heated Oval Office argument with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, before later reversing his decision. This caused quite a stir, since Ukraine depends on deliveries of advanced Western-supplied weapons, including lethal unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles and Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), to penetrate some of Moscow’s most sophisticated surface-to-air (SAM) missile systems like the S-500 “Prometheus.” At the tail end of 2024, Russia’s armed forces formed its first full regiment equipped with these long-range air defense systems, marking a significant milestone for the cutting-edge asset.
An overview of the S-500
The history of the Prometheus SAM is linked directly to the Soviet-era S-300 project. During the Cold War, the Soviet Air Defense Forces required a SAM system capable of defending against air raids and cruise missiles in the U.S. arsenal. Soviet manufacturer NPO Almaz produced the S-300 to fulfill this need in the late 1970s. Over the years, several sub-variants of the S-300 were produced, with the latest being the Antey-2500. With a range of 350km, according to Russian state-run media outlets, the system has “high tactical and technical characteristics that allow it to use it for air defence of the most important administrative, industrial and military facilities, troop groups, coastal infrastructure and naval forces at stationing site.”
The subsequent S-400 was designed in the 1990s to possess even better capabilities. While a massive chunk of the S-400’s technology was adapted from its predecessor, including radars, launchers, and missile storage containers, the new SAM features enhanced software and the ability to incorporate new missile types. Designated by NATO as the SA-21 Growler, the S-400 is sophisticated enough that it can spot even America’s most advanced fighter platforms.
Russia’s newest “Prometheus” S-500 variant is considered to be top-notch by most analysts. In fact, the Kremlin contends that its new S-500 is the only weapon able to intercept the country’s Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, which have an estimated range of around 300 miles and a reported top speed of Mach 10. As detailed by the Center for International and Strategic Studies, the 40N6M long-range missiles can travel at a range of up to 400km, while the 77N6 series interceptors can reach approximately 600km.
In December, Russia’s chief of the general staff, General Valery Gerasimov, revealed that Russia’s first regiment to field the Prometheus SAM was nearing full operational readiness. As reported by Russian state-run news outlets, the S-500 regiment had already been deployed to safeguard the strategically critical Kerch Bridge, which connects the Russian mainland to the Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea. In the past, Kyiv has reportedly been successful in targeting some of Moscow’s earlier SAM variants. Last year, Ukrainian sources reported that both Russia’s S-300 and S-400 systems had been targeted in a cruise missile attack. Ukrainian officials stated that two Neptune missiles were responsible for the destruction of the Russian SAMs.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter:@MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.