S-500 'Prometheus' and S-550 missile systems

It very much looks like the larger missile of the S-300V system.

Being a multistage missile makes sense considering the performance requirements, but a solid rocket boosted scramjet powered missile is not likely simply because this system is supposed to reach target in low earth orbit including incoming ICBM and SLBM warheads and above about 90km there would probably not be enough air to run the scramjet.

Very interesting though.

The situation is quite complex with S-400 because for a while it was a 250km range missile the size of the old S-300P missiles plus two smaller missile types that could be carried four per launch tube.

Now it has become two large missiles of 250km and 400km range and the 9M96 missiles have essentially become the S-350 system instead.

With the S-500 looking like the larger missile of the S-300V/VM/V4 family, then this represents a further change and expansion of missile types.

Certainly to be effective against ICBM warheads and satellites in orbit it will need some very large multistage missiles, but to be useful and cost effective it will need smaller and cheaper missiles for other targets that don't warrant that sort of performance, so S-300VM type big missiles for 600km range targets and targets in space, while S-300PMU2 missiles in the 400km and 250km range could be used over shorter distances against lower performance targets like bombers or recon aircraft etc, and then perhaps S-350 missiles for all the targets previously engaged with the older S-300 and S-400 missiles too... with 9M100 missiles for close in self defence along with TOR and Pantsir units colocated to protect from being overwhelmed with swarm type attacks.

No, the S-500 will supplement the S-400. It has different capabilities, and adds a whole new layer to the Russian mobile tactical IADS capability. Mobile A-235 will add yet another

Indeed, the S-500 system is essentially a fully mobile Moscow ABM system with radars and missiles and command and control systems that can move around with mobile units on land and likely at sea.

A-235 is the Moscow ABM system and will likely be launched from hardened silos because it protects them from most conventional attacks and it is already built... they might extend it to also operate in St Petersberg as another major city, but also systems to protect the Northern Fleet base area and also the Pacific Fleet base area too.

So they will have static ABM systems for cities and military ports or major airfields or military district command centres and over the horizon radar sites, and then a mobile version for armour formations and major bases and strategically important production areas and of course a naval system for destroyers and cruisers and CVNs to defend themselves from hypersonic manouvering threats like anti ship ICBMs and any Zircon equivalent the enemy might eventually come up with.

This could be the beginning of a new topic, or add 500 to the topics name
What an epic day

For the moment I might just add S-500 but we might create a separate thread as more information comes to light.

The original S-300V entered service more than 35 years ago... I would expect that by now they would have an AESA ARH guidance with backup IIR for targets in space.

When they started the S-500 they said it would be a from scratch brand new design... I guess they changed their minds.

Note before the US walked away from the ABM treaty this system would be super illegal as it is essentially a full ICBM and SLBM ABM system that is mobile.

Had a chat to George and so we will probably split the S-500 stuff away from this thread on the S-300 and S-400.

This is the Air Force section and so the relevant S-300 is the S-300P family which is basically the same as the Navy S-300F but was developed much further, but unrelated to the Army S-300V which this S-500 seems to be based on.

I suspect the Air Force and Navy will use the S-500 too so the S-500 thread could remain in this section, but now we have pictures it could probably get its own thread.

It is of course very likely that S-500 will have multiple missile types with all using higher speed missiles, but some optimised for space interception of satellites in orbit and also ICBM and SLBM warheads moving at high speed, while others might be optimised for groups of targets large distances away... so a 600km range missile that carries a dozen 9M96 missiles that can then spread out and take down a large group of incoming bombers or fighters or cruise missiles for instance.