Russia begins production of S-500 Prometheus air defense missile system.

The production of S-500 and S-400 air defense weapons on automobile undercarriage has been launched at the machine-building enterprise in Nizhny Novgorod, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said in an interview with the Kommersant daily.

Scale model of S-500 TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) air defense missile system  (Picture source: D.R.)

"According to the decision of the Russian president, Almaz-Antey Concern built two enterprises in Kirov and Nizhny Novgorod. The projected capacity of the Kirov enterprise can produce thousands of prospective antiaircraft missiles a year. The enterprise in Nizhny Novgorod has already launched the production of S-500 and S-400 weapons on automobile undercarriage and wheeled semitrailers," he said.

The S-500 is to replace the S-400. Its life cycle is 25 years. Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said the supplies to the troops are to begin in 2020.

The S-500 "Prometheus" (Russian name 55R6M Triumfator-M) is the latest generation of Russian-made surface-to-air defense missile system, currently under development by the Russian Defense Company Almaz-Antey company. According to Russian sources, the S-500 is an advanced version of S-400 with dedicated components designed to intercept ballistic missiles at a height of up to 200 km.

Almaz-Antey has been building the 70 years of Victory plant in Nizhny Novgorod and the facility in Kirov for the production of components for S-400 and S-500 since 2012.