New Delhi: In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, India’s deployment of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system proved instrumental in countering Pakistan’s aerial retaliation. The airstrikes, launched by Indian forces on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, were met with a barrage of missiles and drones targeting Indian border cities in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab.
According to Indian defence officials, the S-400 units successfully intercepted multiple threats, forcing Pakistani jets to abort or reroute their missions, showcasing the system’s real-time operational effectiveness.
As tensions simmer, Russia is preparing to unveil the S-500 "Prometheus" system, which experts say could redefine global air and space defence.
S-500: Russia’s Leap Into Space-Age Warfare
The S-500 is designed to tackle modern and future threats and is equipped to intercept hypersonic glide vehicles, advanced UAVs, and even low Earth orbit satellites. According to a report by The Times of India, the system boasts a ballistic target detection range of up to 2,000 km and can intercept at altitudes reaching 200 km, well into near space.
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With a response time of just 3-4 seconds and kinetic hit-to-kill interceptors like the 77N6 missile, the Prometheus is engineered for rapid and precise threat neutralisation. It also employs a jam-resistant, multi-band radar system capable of detecting stealth aircraft and space-based threats, giving it a strategic edge in modern warfare environments.
S-400 vs S-500
While India’s S-400, dubbed the Sudarshan Chakra by the Indian Air Force, remains a formidable multi-role air defence system, the S-500 sets new benchmarks. The S-400 can detect targets at 600 km and engage threats up to 400 km away, whereas the S-500 extends that envelope to 600 km for ballistic missiles and 800 km for aerial targets.
The Prometheus also surpasses the S-400 in altitude engagement (200 km vs 30 km) and response time (3–4 seconds vs 9–10 seconds), though the S-400 holds an edge in simultaneously tracking more targets—36 compared to the S-500’s 10.
