Russia to launch S-500 air defence system: How is it better than the S-400?

Operation Sindoor involved precision airstrikes by Indian forces targeting terrorist camps and airbases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

In retaliation, Pakistan launched missile and drone attacks on border cities in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab. India's S-400 missile defence system played a pivotal role in neutralising these aerial threats, successfully intercepting missiles and drones, forcing Pakistani jets and missiles to abort or alter their strike missions.

The S-400, also known in India as the Sudarshan Chakra, is a highly advanced long-range surface-to-air missile system capable of tracking over 100 targets simultaneously and engaging multiple threats with high precision. It can detect targets up to 600 km away and intercept them at ranges of up to 400 km, including aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. The system’s mobile launchers allow swift redeployment, enhancing battlefield flexibility.

India signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia in 2018 for five S-400 units, deploying the first in Punjab in 2021 specifically to counter threats from Pakistan and China. The system’s performance during Operation Sindoor has been lauded as a decisive factor in thwarting Pakistani aerial attacks, with Indian officials confirming the system’s operational integrity despite Pakistani claims to the contrary.

Enter the S-500: The next-generation air defence system
The S-500, also known as Prometheus, represents a significant leap in air defence technology, designed to counter emerging threats such as hypersonic glide vehicles, high-speed drones, and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which are beyond the reach of the S-400.

Key capabilities of the S-500

• Target types: Ballistic missiles, hypersonic targets, aircraft, UAVs, low Earth orbit satellites, and space weapons
• Detection range: Up to 2,000 km for ballistic targets, 800 km for airborne targets
• Interception range: Ballistic targets up to 600 km, airborne targets up to 400 km
• Altitude engagement: Up to 180–200 km (near space)
• Missile types: Includes 40N6M long-range missiles (up to 400 km) and 77N6 interceptors (up to 600 km)
• Simultaneous targets engaged: Up to 10 targets at once
• Response time: 3–4 seconds, faster than S-400
• Interception method: Kinetic hit-to-kill interceptors for ballistic missiles, improving precision and lethality
• Radar: Jam-proof, multi-frequency radar capable of tracking stealth aircraft and near-space targets

The S-500's ability to intercept hypersonic missiles and destroy satellites in low Earth orbit marks it as a strategic game-changer.

It also has a rapid launch capability and a high rate of fire, making it effective in environments with multiple simultaneous threats.