Russian S-500 Prometheus air defense system shot down a ballistic missile with a hypersonic unit

At the end of last month, an extremely significant event took place for our military industry, in fact, as for all of Russia as a whole. The newest S-500 Prometheus air defense system successfully hit a hypersonic target during recent tests.

It is immediately worth noting here that this capability of the S-500, like the S-400, was confirmed earlier. However, in this case we are talking about a special target - an intercontinental ballistic missile.



Thus, on February 22, the strategic submarine cruiser Tula launched the R-29RMU2 Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile with a hypersonic unit at the Chizha training ground in the Arkhangelsk region. It would seem, at first glance, an ordinary event. If not for one “but”. It was this missile that was hit by the S-500 complex as part of the tests.

Consequently, we can now say with confidence that Russia is significantly superior to its geopolitical opponents not only in the development of hypersonic weapons, but also in the creation of means of protection against this type of weapons. It turns out that even if the West ever manages to reduce the gap in this industry, this fact will not pose a threat to us.

In turn, it is worth adding that the Russian S-500 Prometheus air defense system can “boast” not only of its ability to intercept intercontinental hypersonic missiles. It was previously stated that the complex is capable of destroying space targets in low Earth orbit.

Given that all agreements not to place weapons, including nuclear weapons, in space will likely cease to exist soon, the above-mentioned opportunity will give Russia a huge advantage.

At the moment, the S-500 air defense system is already in mass production. It was even reported that deliveries of the complex to the troops had begun. Meanwhile, there is no exact information on this matter, since most information about Prometheus still remains classified.