S-500 Prometheus (Prometey) Russian Mobile Surface-to-Air Missile System (SAM)
S-500 Prometheus
Mobile Air Defense Missile System
Other
Basic Information
Name
S-500 Prometheus (Prometey) Russian Mobile Surface-to-Air Missile System (SAM)
Designation
S-500 Prometheus
Alternate Designation
S-500 Prometheus; S-500 Prometey; 55R6M Triumfator-M
Equipment Type
Mobile Air Defense Missile System
Manufacturer
Almaz-Antei was established from various component companies in 2002
Date of Introduction
2021
Description
The S-500 Prometheus (Prometey) 10x10 Mobile Surface-to-Air Missile System (SAM) is an advanced medium- to long-range air-defense system designed by Russia's Almaz-Antey. The system is designed to provide an additional outer layer to Russia's mobile interdiction capabilities that can be used to engage ballistic missiles and other forms of advanced air-defence systems, including a potential anti-satellite (ASAT) capability. The system is in limited service. The S-500 is a medium- to long-range air-defence system designed to engage ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and low earth orbit satellites with a missile-based interdiction system. It is understood to engage its targets during the mid or terminal flight stage and may have access to multiple missile types depending on its intended target. Furthermore, the S-500 is designed to operate within a network of air-defence systems and provide defence of important assets such as cities or important military sites.
Ground Specifications
Mobility Type
Wheeled (10x10)
Range
600.0 km
System
Alternative Designation
S-500 Prometheus; S-500 Prometey; 55R6M Triumfator-M
Type
Mobile Surface-to-Air Missile System (SAM)
Manufacturer
Almaz-Antei was established from various component companies in 2002.
Mission
The S-500 Prometheus (Prometey) 10x10 Mobile Surface-to-Air Missile System (SAM) is a long-range air defense system designed to engage ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and low earth orbit satellites with a missile-based interdiction system. It is understood to engage its targets during the mid or terminal flight stage and may have access to multiple missile types depending on its intended target.
Crew
INA
Transport Erector Launcher (TEL)
10 × 10 truck chassis to ensure good off and on-road mobility that has been developed by the Start Joint Stock Concern. There is very little information on any of the TELs that are expected to make up the S-500. The primary vehicle will be a 10 × 10 with a potential weight of 54 tonnes per vehicle. The Transport Erector Launcher (TEL) components are believed to be designated 77P6.
Configuration
10 x 10
Dimensions
Length
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Width
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Height
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Weight, Combat
There is very little information on any of the TELs that are expected to make up the S-500. The primary vehicle will be a 10 × 10 with a potential weight of 54 tons per vehicle.
Automotive
Note
There is very little information on any of the TELs that are expected to make up the S-500.
Communications
Command-and Control (C2) System
Russian authorities and Almaz-Antei have stated that the S-500 will be a completely new system with little commonality with the S-400 but it will be interfaced with the 30K6E command-and-control (C2) system, making it interoperable with existing air-defence systems in Russia's multilayered IADA, including the S-400, S-300PMU2, Pantsyr, and Tor. The communications systems are likely to be robust and encrypted, some sources indicate that a 6th generation family of radios will be developed, to ensure that the system's communications cannot be interrupted or intercepted by established means. In late December 2015, Alexander Yakunin the then chief executive officer (CEO) of the United Instrument Construction Corporation (part of Rostec) during an interview with the Russian press mentioned the TUF-MA and TUF-M2 new high-frequency tuning communications for the S-400/S-500 and Vityaz air-defence systems. The TUF systems were reported to encode all transmissions and employ RF agility using new phased-array antennas with digital beam-forming.
Missile Weapon System
Targeting & Guidance Systems
The S-500 is expected to have a very quick reaction time. The speed of the targets that it is expected to engage would require a target engagement process in the order of a few seconds – certainly below 10 – to be successful. Traditionally, Russian air-defence systems are required to be capable of operating autonomously if disconnected from the higher levels of the country's integrated air-defence architecture (IADA).
77N6-N and 77N6-N1
The 77N6 series are new missiles designed specifically for the S-500. The capabilities of the missiles are unclear, but the original requirement issued by the Russian MoD specified an intercept height of 200 km and a flight speed up to 7 km/second. Further details released by Izvestia indicate that the missiles have a horizontal engagement range of 600 km and an altitude limit of at least 100 km. At least one of the missiles has also been successfully tested at a range of 481 km. The primary warhead is reported by Russian sources to be an inert hit-to-kill warhead, although other reports indicate that a nuclear warhead might be fitted to defeat ballistic missiles and the re-entry vehicles.
40N6
The 40N6 long-range missile was developed for the S-400 medium-range air-defence system, it has a maximum range of 380 km and up to 15 km against ballistic targets operating at altitudes between 10 m and 35 km, according to TASS. The upper limits of the missile's altitude envelope is 185 km. It is reportedly capable of a maximum flight speed of 2,800 m/s and it has a weight of 1,893 kg. The system is claimed to be capable of engaging low earth orbit satellites, although it is unclear whether any such systems would come within the 185 km altitude range that the missile can reach.
Fire Control
Fire Control Center
1 x PBU 85Zh6-2
Battery Command Post
1 x 55K6MA battery command post (BCP)
Radar Systems
76T6 and 77T6 Radars
Precise details of these radars are unavailable. They are thought to be active phased-array systems using gallium nitride (GaN) substrate that operate in the X-band, and are used for target tracking and engagement at long range. From published schematics, the 76T6 multimode engagement radar is shown with the antenna head module of a 92N6E ‘Grave Stone' and is assessed to potentially be a derivative of that system. The radar uses a telescopic datalink mast with cylindrical antennae elements. The 76T6 will provide fire control and missile guidance against medium- and low-flying air targets. While little information on the system has been released, replacement of the phased-array antenna with an active AESA array is a likely improvement.
Based on concept imagery, the 77T6 engagement radar is understood to have an enlarged version of the 76T6/92N6E radar head and is intended to be used for ABM engagement. While not much information on the specifications of this radar has been obtained, it is speculated that the AESA unit developed for the 77T6 radar set may consist of 256 transceiver channels. Sergey Druzin, a Deputy Director General Designer from Almaz-Antei, has stated that the radars use relatively small amplifiers that use a 27 V system, as opposed to a 30–40 kV electric vacuum system as used in some radars.
91N6AM missile Guidance Radar
The 91N6A(M) ‘Big Bird' multifunctional adaptive radar system (MARS) is understood to be an upgraded 91N6 radar of the S-400. The primary role of the radar will be to search ballistic missile threats. The radar can be mounted on a 23 m-high 40V6M mast for increased detection range of 2,000 km (against ballistic missile targets) and is assessed to operate on a scan rate of five rotations per minute, like the 91N6.
96L6 Tracking Radar
The 96L6-TsP ‘Cheese Board' is an upgrade of the 96L6E battery acquisition radar of the S-400. The radar can interface with the other command posts in the IADA through radio-frequency datalinks. In April 2018, Russian television released an image of a radar referred to as the Yenisey all-altitude radar, associating it with the S-500 system and being used for long-range testing of air-defence systems at the Ashuluk testing range. The Yenisey radar was shown with a significantly modified array mounted on an enlarged rotating base. From the image shown it is assumed that this radar is the 96L6-TsP. The range of this radar is unknown.
Protection
Hull Armor
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Applique Armor
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NBC Protection
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Smoke Equipment
No
Details
Country of Origin
Russia
Category
Radar Guided Missile Systems
Land > Air Defense > Radar Guided Missile Systems
Filter Label
S
Classification
Domain
Ground
Equipment Status
Active
Dimensions
Length
—
Width
—
Height
—
Weight
500000 kg
Operators (1)
Russia
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