Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov announced on December 18 the creation of the first S-500 Prometheus-equipped air defense regiment, and Ukrainian intelligence last summer discovered a launcher for the system near the Kerch Bridge in occupied Crimea. reported that it existed. .
Gerasimov said the regiment was nearing full operational readiness, adding: “This system is unlike any system deployed before.”
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He said the S-500 could neutralize the most advanced missile threats, from hypersonic weapons to intercontinental ballistic missiles. “It represents a major shift,” he added, although some may interpret this as a direct one. Challenge to NATO.
Ukrainian sources reported in the summer that the first launch pad had been deployed in Crimea amid growing concerns in the Kremlin that the Kerch Bridge was high on Kiev’s list of priority targets. This follows Ukrainian ATACMS and Storm Shadow attacks on Crimea’s air defense systems, naval assets, and command centers.
On Sunday, Milblogger Splinter Observer reported that Russia’s newly created S-500 air defense regiment was given the task of reinforcing the defense of Crimean bridges with all its units.
The S-500, which Russia’s Almaz Antei state enterprise began developing in the late 2000s, is said to be able to counter all air threats, including stealth aircraft, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), hypersonic missiles, and low-orbit satellites. It is being said. . It can be configured for long-range air or missile defense.
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The S-500 and its components are installed in the BAZ-6909 family of multi-terrain vehicles and include an advanced battle management radar system that supports simultaneous detection and engagement of multiple targets.
The system is claimed to have a maximum operating range of 600 kilometers (375 miles) at altitudes of up to 200 kilometers (125 miles), a significant improvement over Russia’s current S-300 and S-400 systems. Beyond the capabilities of the U.S. Patriots. and THAAD system.
The S-500 regiment consists of 12 launchers that can detect and engage up to 10 individual ballistic missile warheads with a response time of 3 to 4 seconds. The S-500 uses a 77N6-N/N1 “hit tile” designed to deliver a direct high-velocity attack on an incoming missile, rather than the close-fusion fragment warhead typical of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs).
The Crimean Bridge is an important logistics route, allowing military and civilian goods to be transported between Russia and Crimea, and also has propaganda value, which President Vladimir Putin values.
The Kremlin believes that Ukraine intends to destroy the bridge not only to disrupt military supply lines and military operations, but also to highlight Russia’s inability to maintain control and humiliate President Putin. . This view is reinforced by frequent comments by Ukraine’s military and political leaders, as well as previous attacks on the bridge.
