Russian-made S-500 air defense system will begin tests this year 30202161.

Almaz-Antei Defense Company is working on a complex of S-500 ‘Promethey’ surface-to-air missiles from 2010.

Deliveries of the prototypes of the new weapon are scheduled for later this year, according to Russian state-run media outlet Sputnik International, which did not cite a source. Following the delivery of the prototypes, the S-500 will begin a series of “pre-tests” before the end of 2016.

The S-500 Prometey- also known as the 55R6M Triumfator-M is expected to be much more capable than the current S-400 Triumf, which is currently deployed in Syria and across many Russian military districts including Kaliningrad on the Polish border.

When the S-500 Prometey becomes operational in 2017, it will likely form the upper tier of Russia’s layered integrated air defense system.

The S-500 is expected to able to detect and simultaneously attack up to ten ballistic missile warheads flying at speeds of twenty-three thousand feet per second. It is also reportedly being designed to use hit-to-kill interceptors- a design with similarities to Lockheed Martin's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). The system may have a range as great as 373 miles and hit targets as high as 115 miles, which means the S-500 will be able to intercept warheads incoming from space.