Russia’s New S-500 Air Defense System's Trials On Schedule

Russia’s most advanced S-500 air defense system will shortly be completing trials as some of its elements have already undergone testing.

Almaz-Antey Deputy CEO for Foreign Economic Activity Vyacheslav Dzirkaln told during MAKS-2017 international airshow on Thursday, "some elements of the new S-500 antiaircraft missile system have now successfully passed the basic part of trials", TASS reports.

The work is generally proceeding according to the schedule approved by the Russian Defense Ministry and the delivery of the S-500 air defense missile system to the troops is scheduled for 2020, he noted.

The deputy chief also noted that the trials of three new missiles for the S-350 Vityaz medium-range air defense system with active homing heads are also on schedule.

The S-350 Vityaz is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system designed for battlefield air defense. Almaz-Antey Chief Designer Pavel Sozinov earlier said that the system’s trials were scheduled to be completed this year.

The S-500 is designed to replace its predecessor S-400. The new system is being developed with a perspective of its operation in the next 25 years.