Countries' air defense systems are receiving a lot of attention as global tensions increase due to the ongoing Middle east conflict.  Air defenses are integrated military systems that identify, stop, and destroy airborne threats like missiles, drones, and hostile aircraft.
 
India's air defense capabilities were demonstrated during Operation Sindoor last month, but it is not equipped to combat more sophisticated aircraft, such as fifth-generation stealth fighters like the F-35 and J-35A. However, the Russian-built S-500 "Prometheus" air defense system is capable of handling the task. Let's go over it in greater detail here.

Successor to S-400 system
The S-500 has a cutting-edge radar that can track and destroy hypersonic missiles and stealth fighter jets.  It can successfully kill fifth-generation stealth aircraft in midair, according to experts.  India currently uses both its own missile defenses and the Russian-built S-400 Triumph system.  However, the S-500 is very different from its predecessor, primarily because it uses cutting-edge technology made for contemporary combat.  The Russian defense company Almaz Antey is the developer of the S-500.

Additionally, it can track missiles traveling at up to Mach 19 (more than 23,000 kilometers per hour) and detect and destroy up to 10 hypersonic missiles simultaneously, far outperforming the S-400 system. 

S-500's range and altitude capacity
Additionally, the S-500 has advanced altitude and range capabilities. It can intercept threats at altitudes of 180 to 200 kilometers and strike at a range of 600 kilometers.  This enables the system to destroy long-range missiles like China's DF-21D and DF-26, as well as Pakistan's Ababil (2,200 km range) and Shaheen-3 (2,750 km range).  The S-500, sometimes called the "death knell" of fifth-generation fighter jets, is hard to track since it can detect and counter targets with very little radar radiation.  
For more interesting updates wa click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel

Find out more:

Air defence system

G GOWTHAM

25/06/2025 11:52 AM