In India, an evaluation is underway regarding the feasibility of purchasing the S-500 Prometey air defense and anti-missile system developed and produced in Russia.
#### S-500 Features
The S-500 “Prometey” or 55R6M Triumfator-M is a mobile anti-ballistic missile system designed to engage hypersonic missiles and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, operating up to 600 km away and 180-200 km in altitude, or AWACS aircraft 400 km from the launch point. It also has the anti-missile task against reentry vehicles in the atmosphere of intercontinental ballistic missiles. According to Russian sources, the S-500 would be able to face even stealth aerial targets.
The S-500 system would be able to hook up to 10 hypersonic targets simultaneously, offering 360-degree air space coverage. Thanks to the ability to reach 200 km in height, the system is credited with anti-satellite capabilities in low orbits.
The S-500 systems are progressively integrated into the missile network based on S-400, S-350, and S-300V systems and are mainly deployed in defense of ICBM sites. The Russian Aerospace Forces are planning to purchase five S-500 complexes and the first ones have been integrated into the Moscow air defense system.
#### India’s experience with the S-400 and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict
In recent years, Indian Defense has purchased the S-400 Triumph air defense and anti-missile system, which has recently been put into action to counter Pakistani air activity in the violent border clashes of recent weeks.
India has purchased a total of five S-400 Triumph battalions for a total of 5.43 billion dollars.
Moreover, in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, more than one S-400 system operated by Russian units was destroyed by the Ukrainian armed forces, with AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles, long-range guided rockets and attacks carried out by drones.
#### The S-400/F-35 dispute between Turkey and the United States
The S-400 Triumph is known in the West because it was at the base of the quarrel between Turkey and the United States that saw Washington cancel Ankara’s participation in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
In fact, at the time of the first Trump presidency, Turkey decided to purchase the S-400 Triumph air defense and anti-missile system, but this purchase generated heavy politics with the United States, which saw the Russian system as damaging to collective NATO defense.
In the end, with the Turkish will persisting in the S-400 Triumph acquisition program, the United States decided to oust Ankara from the F-35 program, furthermore withholding over one billion dollars already paid, which has sparked additional disputes between the two countries.
