Russia has deployed its first full regiment of the S-500 long-range air defense system. The announcement, made on December 18 by General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, highlighted the system’s cutting-edge features and its deployment to protect the strategic Kerch Bridge. 

With a maximum range of 600 kilometers and an operational altitude of up to 200 kilometers, the S-500 system surpasses the capabilities of comparable U.S. systems, such as the Patriot and THAAD. 

#Russian Military will receive two versions of S-500 Air Defense in 2024 says MoD 🇷🇺

>SAM long-range Anti Aircraft Missile

>Anti Ballistic Missile defense system, Counter Hypersonic & Anti Satellite 🛰

Just Check the launch & Speed of Missile 🥶 pic.twitter.com/1lLUKwtJ5s

— Vivek Singh (@VivekSi85847001) April 25, 2024

The S-500 is designed to counter a wide spectrum of threats, including stealth aircraft, hypersonic missiles, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and low-orbit satellites. 

Unlike its predecessor, the S-400, which uses a four-missile configuration, the S-500 employs a leaner design with two missiles per launcher. These missiles are optimized for high-altitude, high-speed engagements and rely on direct kinetic strikes to destroy incoming threats, eliminating the need for traditional proximity-fused warheads. 

This technological sophistication allows the S-500 to engage multiple targets simultaneously with a response time of three to four seconds.

The S-500 arrives in the Russian army

The first examples of the new generation S-500 anti-aircraft missile system will be delivered to the Armed Forces of Russia in 2024, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced. pic.twitter.com/oWtd1uvufR

— Sprinter Observer (@SprinterObserve) April 23, 2024

The Kerch Bridge is vital for the transport of military supplies and civilian goods between Russia and Crimea. It holds both practical and symbolic importance, serving as a key component of President Vladimir Putin’s assertion of control over Crimea since its annexation in 2014.

Ukrainian military and political officials have long identified the bridge as a primary target in their efforts to disrupt Russian supply chains and diminish the Kremlin’s ability to project power in the region. 

Recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian assets in Crimea, including air defense systems, naval resources, and command centers, have increased the urgency for the Kremlin to bolster the bridge’s defenses.

General Gerasimov characterized the deployment of the S-500 as a transformative step for Russia’s military strategy, describing the system as unparalleled in its ability to counter modern missile threats.