India could be the first foreign customer of Russian S-500 missile system.

According to news published by the Russian press agency TASS, India could be the first foreign customer of the new Russian-made S-500 also named 55R6M and nicknamed Triumfator-M or Prometheus, the latest generation of Russian surface-to-air defense missile system.
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Russian-made TEL Transporter Erector Launcher Unit of S-500 air defense missile system. (Picture source Russia MoD)

During an interview on the Russian TV channel RBC, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov has announced that India may be the first foreign buyer of Russia’s most advanced S-500 air defense missile system.

"Beyond a doubt, once we deliver this system to our troops, India will be the first on the list if it expresses its desire to buy these advanced armaments," said the Russian Prime Minister. Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on July 20 that the S-500 air defense system conducted a successful test-launch against a fast-moving ballistic target at the Kapustin Yar proving ground.

The S-500 Prometheus, Russian designation 55R6M is a Russian-made mobile air defense missile system designed to target and destroy a wide range of aerial threats including aircraft, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The S-500 missile is manufactured by the Russian company Almaz-Antey. The first tests of the S-500 were conducted in 2015 and the production began in 2017.   

The missile of the S-500 is able to destroy aerial targets at a maximum range from 500 to 600 km and an altitude from 180 to 200 km. With these technical features, the S-500 is also able to destroy ICBM (InterContinental Ballistic Missiles) as well as low-orbit satellites in Earth's troposphere.  

A battery unit of S-500 includes an undisclosed number of TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) called 77P6, Command Posts 55K6MA and 85Zh6-2, an Acquisition and Battle Management Radar 91N6A(M) nicknamed Big Bird, one 96L6-TsP acquisition radar, one 76T6 Multimode Engagement Radar, one 77T6 AMB Engagement Radar, and one 40V6MT Universal Mobile Mast System. The radar systems used with the S-500 battery are able to detect aerial threats at an estimated distance of 2,000 km. 

According to Russian open sources information, the S-500 is capable of responding to the threats in under 4 seconds and simultaneously attacking up to 10 ballistic missiles flying at hypersonic speeds of 5 to 7 kilometers per second. 

In July 2021, Army Recognition has reported that Russia has already conducted the first firing test with the S-500. A video was released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on July 20, 2021, showing a live firing test with an S-500 TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) unit, that was held during a training exercise at the Kapustin Yar range,