Military expert points out weaknesses of Russia's latest air defense system
Russia's latest Prometheus S-500 air defense systems, still in development, are vulnerable and can be easily destroyed if they are not protected by short- and medium-range systems, Andrei Frolov, a military expert, wrote in the Izvestia newspaper.
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| Photo: The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation |
“The S-500 itself is very vulnerable. It must be part of a multi-layered air defense system. To buy “Prometheus”, one must have systems of other layers: S-400, S-300, “Buk”, “Thor”, “Pantsir-S” and others. The S-500, not protected by short- and medium-range systems, can be easily destroyed by relatively simple means of attack,” Frolov said.
According to him, the S-500 air defense missile system may be of interest to a number of countries, including China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Algeria and Iran.
Türkiye has expressed its desire to produce the most advanced systems together with Russia, Frolov recalled. The expert explained that the S-500 will also be used to destroy satellites and missiles, and it is the anti-missile capabilities of the system that may attract potential buyers.
However, the expert added, at present the characteristics of the S-500 are still unknown, and moreover, for the most effective use, it is necessary to have systems of other classes in operation.
