Russia’s S-500 Said to Counter Hypersonic Threats
A Russian defence expert has claimed that the newly deployed S-500 Prometheus air and missile defence system can intercept advanced threats, including modern hypersonic missiles that are expected to be developed by Western militaries. The expert highlighted the system’s design as part of Russia’s broader effort to strengthen its air defence architecture and provide what Moscow describes as strategic protection against high-speed aerial and missile threats.
What the S-500 is designed to do
The S-500 Prometheus is a next-generation surface-to-air and anti-ballistic missile system developed to operate above and beyond the earlier S-400 systems. It is intended to detect and track a wide range of targets, including aircraft, ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons, at long range and high altitudes. The system’s radar and interceptor technology are engineered to engage multiple targets simultaneously and respond quickly to rapidly moving threats.
Independent technical analysis shows that the S-500 is designed to intercept ballistic and hypersonic missiles under test conditions, with an engagement envelope that extends into the upper atmosphere and near space. Its capabilities aim at complementing layered air defence networks by targeting high-altitude threats that other systems may struggle to engage.
Limits and expert assessment
While Russian sources and defence experts emphasise the system’s advanced performance, independent analysts note that claims about its ability to defeat all future hypersonic weapons — especially those still in development — are not fully verified outside of Russian military reports. The system has entered service with the Russian armed forces, but real-world performance against the most advanced hypersonic missiles remains unproven. Technical data suggests the S-500 can engage fast targets at great distances and heights, but operational effectiveness depends on integration with broader air and missile defence networks.
