Russian S-500 Air Defenses vs. US F-22 & F-35

By Maya Carlin, Warrior Contributor, Weapons

Back in March, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu revealed that Moscow would complete its missile defense systems modernization efforts by the end of 2023. Russia began prioritizing its aerospace defense capabilities in 2020, when the Kremlin announced its State Armament Program.

Under the latest iteration of the program, dubbed GPV-2027 in Russia, the production of the new S-500 system will be accomplished.

Russia’s latest anti-aircraft missile defense system, “Prometheus,” is expected to become a staple of the Kremlin’s aerospace defense system.

The combat capabilities of the Prometheus reportedly blows its predecessor’s abilities out of the water. However, while Moscow may claim that this new system could easily take down fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 Raptor or the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, little remains confirmed about the S-500.

A brief history of the S-500

Back in 2010, Moscow began developing the successor to the first batch of S-400 systems deployed a few years prior. Like the earlier S-300 and S-400 models, Prometheus was designed to be capable of defeating ballistic and cruise missile threats.

The newer variant, however, was also intended to counter fifth-generation airframes and low orbit satellites- capabilities its predecessors could not achieve. Since the S-500’s design conception, multiple delays have hindered the system’s introduction to service.

Alleged specs and capabilities

The new S-500 system consists of four 40N6M long-range surface-to-air missiles or two 77N6 interceptors in tubes mounted on a launch vehicle. According to the Center for International and Strategic Studies, the 40N6M long-range missiles can travel at a range of 400km, while the 77N6 series interceptors can reach roughly 600 km.