Russia has reportedly deployed its newly formed S-500 air defense regiment to strengthen the defense of the strategically important Kerch Bridge, which connects mainland Russia with the Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea.
The move was reported by the Ukrainian media Kyiv Post, citing a military blogger known as Splinter Observer.
The Kerch Bridge, which facilitates the movement of military and civilian goods, is of great importance to Russia not only in practical terms, but also as a symbol of President Vladimir Putin’s assertion of power over Crimea.
The Kremlin has consistently viewed bridges as an important element of territorial integrity, making their defense a top priority.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has long considered the bridge a prime target. Kiev’s strategy aims to disrupt Russia’s military supply lines and reduce the Kremlin’s ability to control Crimea.
Ukrainian officials have also emphasized the symbolic importance of bashing the bridge to embarrass President Putin, a view echoed by many military and political figures in Kiev.
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According to a report on January 8, the entire S-500 regiment was given the task of reinforcing the defenses of Kerch Bridge. However, EuroAsian Times cannot independently verify these claims.
This follows the creation of Russia’s first S-500 Prometheus-equipped air defense regiment, announced by Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov on December 18.
At the time, Gerasimov said the S-500 was unlike any system Russia had ever fielded and could neutralize advanced missile threats such as hypersonic weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
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Mr. Gerasimov further emphasized the system’s ability to provide comprehensive protection against modern missile threats, arguing that it will strengthen Russia’s overall defense posture.
Although the Kremlin has not yet officially confirmed the details of these developments, Ukrainian officials have reported signs of growing Moscow’s concerns about the security of the Kerch Bridge since last summer.
Ukrainian sources said the first S-500 launchers were launched as part of a broader effort to protect the bridge in the face of continued attacks by Ukraine on Russian assets in the region, including air defense systems, naval resources and command centers. It claimed to have been deployed to Crimea.
S-500 Prometheus Air Defense System
However, the strategic importance of the Kerch Bridge and the escalation of military activity in the region suggest that it remains a focal point in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
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The use of the S-500 system signals an escalation in Russia’s efforts to ensure Crimea’s territorial hold and protect critical infrastructure from further Ukrainian attacks.
The S-500 air defense system is considered one of the most advanced in its class. This system can target multiple threats at very long distances. Designed to meet the increasing complexity of modern air threats, it serves as a highly effective theater ballistic missile defense system.
One of the main advantages of the S-500 is its flexibility. Like its predecessor, it can deploy different types of missiles depending on specific threats and mission requirements. This allows you to counter various aerial dangers.
The system utilizes the new 77N6 interceptor missile, which exhibits superior efficiency in intercepting ballistic missiles. These interceptor missiles employ a kinetic energy hit-to-kill approach to provide a higher degree of protection than the explosive fragmentation warheads used in older systems such as the S-400 and S-300. .
Equipped with state-of-the-art radar and targeting technology, the S-500 can attack targets up to 600 kilometers away.
In particular, it is known for its ability to track a variety of targets, including stealth aircraft, hypersonic missiles, and low-orbit satellites that strengthen Russia’s defense capabilities.
The radar suite consists of four vehicles per battery, each equipped with specialized radar systems such as the 91N6E(M) S-band acquisition radar, 96L6-TsP C-band acquisition radar, 76T6 multimode engagement radar, and 77T6. Masu. Anti-ballistic missile radar.
These systems allow the S-500 to track both ballistic and air targets at ranges of up to 2,000 kilometers for ballistic threats and 800 kilometers for air targets.
With advanced radar capabilities and advanced signal processing, the S-500 can reportedly detect and track stealth aircraft, reducing their ability to evade detection in defended airspace.
The S-500 can attack up to 10 targets simultaneously and features a quick response time of just 3-4 seconds. This is an improvement over the S-400.
Advanced anti-jamming radars can also detect objects in “near space,” providing the system with the tactical advantage of identifying and tracking threats before they enter the engagement zone.
