Russia at final stage to test high-altitude interceptor for S-500 air defense system

ZHUKOVSKY (Moscow Region), July 20. /TASS/. Russia’s Almaz-Antey defense manufacturer is completing the trials of a high-altitude missile interceptor for the most advanced S-500 air defense system, Almaz-Antey Deputy CEO for Foreign Economic Activity Vyacheslav Dzirkaln said at the MAKS-2017 international airshow on Thursday. According to the deputy chief executive, "some elements of the new S-500 antiaircraft missile system have now successfully passed the basic part of trials." "Trials are coming to a close for the surface-to-air anti-missile designed to intercept targets in the upper layers of the atmosphere," Dzirkaln told journalists. 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 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. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier that the delivery of the S-500 air defense missile system to the troops would begin in 2020. Read more