Air Defense
S-500 Prometey
The S-500 Prometey, also designated 55R6M Triumfator-M, is a Russian long-range air and missile defence system built by Almaz-Antey. Designed to sit above the S-400, it is meant to engage ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons and, Russia claims, satellites in low orbit.
Russia|Almaz-AnteyOverview
Work on the S-500 began in the 2000s, but repeated delays pushed service entry to 2021, when the first regiment took up combat duty around Moscow. Russian figures claim a range of up to 600 km against ballistic targets and 500 km against aircraft, intercepts at altitudes up to 180–200 km and up to 10 ballistic targets engaged at once. It fires 77N6-N and 77N6-N1 hit-to-kill interceptors and the 40N6M, guided by a set of four radars on heavy BAZ trucks.
Independent details are scarce. Western analysts report only about one regiment in service by the mid-2020s, and Russia’s 2018 claim of a record 481 km test intercept has not been verified. Ukrainian sources said in 2024 that an S-500 had been deployed to Crimea and that a component was hit, which Russia has not confirmed. A strategic derivative, the S-550, was announced in 2021. Russia says exports will come only after domestic needs are met, and no foreign contract exists.
Key Specifications
Variants
Baseline system in service since 2021, combining long-range radars with 40N6M and 77N6 interceptors.
Configuration using the hit-to-kill 77N6-N1 interceptor against ballistic missiles and, according to Russia, space targets.
Strategic missile defence derivative announced by the Russian defence ministry in 2021, with few public details.
Operators
RussiaFrequently Asked Questions
How much does the S-500 cost?
The S-500’s price is not public. Russian media estimates put a system at around $700 million or more, but this is unverified, and there is no export price because the system has never been sold abroad.
What is the range of the S-500?
Russia claims the S-500 can hit ballistic targets at up to 600 km and aircraft at up to 500 km, at altitudes of up to 180–200 km. These are manufacturer and state media figures that have not been independently verified.
S-500 vs S-400: what is the difference?
The S-500 is designed mainly for ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons and very high-altitude targets, while the S-400 focuses on aircraft and cruise missiles. The S-500 adds 77N6 hit-to-kill interceptors and new radars, and shares the 40N6M missile with the S-400 family.
Can the S-500 shoot down satellites?
Russia claims the S-500 can engage satellites in low orbit, but this capability has never been demonstrated publicly. Nearly all stated details about its anti-satellite role come from the manufacturer and Russian state media.
Is the S-500 better than THAAD?
That cannot be said with confidence. Russia claims the S-500 has a longer range and higher engagement altitude than THAAD, but THAAD has a public test record and has been used operationally, while S-500 performance data is largely unverified.
Will Türkiye buy the S-500?
There is no S-500 agreement with Türkiye as of 2026. Turkish officials discussed possible future Russian systems after the S-400 purchase and media speculated about the S-500, but Russia says exports will come only after its own needs are met.