ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE: The Russian Ministry of Defense
The advanced S-500 surface-to-air missile/anti-ballistic missile and S-350 medium-range surface-to-air missile systems will enter service with the Russian Armed Forces soon, the commandant of the Zhukov Air-Space Academy, Lieutenant General Vladimir Lyaporov, said in an interview published by the Krasnaya Zvezda daily on March 1.
According to the interview, a first group of officers will complete a training course to use S-500 in 2019.
“I would like to note that in 2019, the first group of officers will complete the academy’s course to use the S-500 systems. The systems are yet to enter service, but we expect them to do so in the near future,” he said. “In the end of the year, the center is expected to receive first S-350 Vityaz systems.”
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shogu revealed that the delivery of S-500 systems to the military is expected in 2020.
The S-500 Prometey is designed for intercepting and destroying intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as hypersonic cruise missiles and aircraft. It’s set to replace the A-135 anti-ballistic missile system, which is currently in use. The S-500 is reportedly able to detect and simultaneously engage up to 10 ballistic hypersonic targets flying at a speed of 18,000-25,000 km/h. The S-500 is a highly mobile system and has a rapid deployability.
The S-350 Vityaz is designed to protect important administrative and military facilities from airstrikes. It includes command post 50K6E, multifunctional radars 50N6E and launchers 50P6E with 12 9M96E2 missiles each. The S-350 can simultaneously fire at 16 air or 12 ballistic targets. Its range is 60 km while the altitude is 30 km.
