By Maxim Starchak

作者：马克西姆·斯塔查克

Oct 5

2003年10月5日

 

Military vehicles are seen at a plant of Russian missile manufacturer Almaz-Antey in Saint Petersburg on Jan. 18, 2023. (Ilya Pitalev/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

2023年1月18日，在俄罗斯导弹制造商"安泰-金刚石"(Almaz-Antey)公司位于圣彼得堡的一家工厂里，可以看到军用车辆。（IlyaPitalev/Sputnik/法新社通过盖蒂图片公司）

 

MOSCOW — In late August, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu traveled to a factory of air defense systems manufacturer Almaz-Antey to inspect its artillery production, emphasizing to the company the importance of round-the-clock work, according to state-run news agency Sputnik.

莫斯科——据官方通讯社俄罗斯卫星通讯社报道，8月底，俄罗斯国防部长谢尔盖·绍伊古前往防空系统制造商"安泰-金刚石"公司的一家工厂检查其火炮生产，并向该公司强调了全天候工作的重要性。

 

This was Shoigu’s second inspection of an Almaz-Antey property this year, having visited another facility in June that makes anti-aircraft missiles, the government news agency Tass reported.

据政府通讯社塔斯社报道，这是绍伊古今年第二次视察"安泰-金刚石"公司的一处设施，他于6月视察了另一处制造防空导弹的设施。

 

During the more recent tour, Shoigu and the head of Almaz-Antey emphasized the effectiveness of the S-300, S-350 and S-400 air defense systems amid Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, there was no mention of the more advanced S-500 Prometheus air defense system.

在最近的访问中，绍伊古和"安泰-金刚石"公司负责人强调了S-300、S-350和S-400防空系统在俄罗斯全面打击乌克兰期间的有效性。然而，没有提到更先进的S-500“普罗米修斯”防空系统。

 

Russia has sought the S-500 as a means of countering hypersonic weapons, and it would be able to reach farther into enemy territory. The weapon is expected to defeat threats at a range of 600 kilometers (373 miles), according to the Center for International and Strategic Studies think tank, whereas the S-300 and S-400 can reach 150 kilometers and 400 kilometers, respectively.

俄罗斯寻求将S-500作为对抗高超音速武器的手段，它将能够深入敌方领土。根据国际与战略研究中心智库的数据，该武器预计可以在600公里（373英里）的范围内击败威胁，而S-300和S-400分别可以达到150公里和400公里。

 

As far back as 2018, President Vladimir Putin called for the mass production of the S-500. However, its manufacturer appears behind.

早在2018年，弗拉基米尔·普京总统就呼吁大规模生产S-500。然而，它的制造商似乎落后了。

 

According to Michael Jerdev, a Russia military expert, international sanctions levied against the country may be negatively impacting work on the air defense system.

俄罗斯军事专家迈克尔·杰德夫表示，对该国实施的国际制裁可能会对防空系统的工作产生负面影响。

 

“Russia can multiply the production of air defense missiles, primarily missiles of the 48N6 family, as they are technological products with minimal dependence on foreign components,” said Jerdev, referring to the primary missile series for the S-400. “As for the production of anti-aircraft complexes and radars themselves, their production has a long cycle and depends on the supply of foreign electronic components, which obviously does not allow them to be produced around the clock.”

“俄罗斯可以大量增加防空导弹的产量，主要是48N6系列的导弹，因为它们是技术产品，对外国部件的依赖性最小。”他指的是S-400的主要导弹系列。“至于防空系统和雷达本身的生产，它们的生产周期很长，依赖于外国电子元件的供应，这显然不允许它们24小时生产。”

 

Furthermore, an Almaz-Antey employee said, the company is experiencing “problems with machine tools and a shortage of components.”

此外，"安泰-金刚石"公司的一名员工表示，该公司正面临“机床问题和零部件短缺”。

 

“The enterprise’s [production rate] has increased,” the source told Defense News on the condition of anonymity to speak freely, but “there are not enough workers.”

这位不愿透露姓名的消息人士告诉《防务新闻》，“企业的（生产率）已经提高了，”但“没有足够的工人。”

 

Meet Prometheus

认识“普罗米修斯”防空系统

 

Developing aerospace defense capabilities has been a major component of Russia’s State Armament Program since 2020.

自2020年以来，发展航空航天防御能力一直是俄罗斯国家军备计划的主要组成部分。

 

The program is meant to lead to the deployment of 100 battalions, which include 800 launchers made up of S-350, S-400 and S-500 systems. Under the latest iteration of Russia’s State Armament Program, also known as GPV-2027, funds are to go toward the production of the S-500 Prometheus. The previous iteration, GPV-2020, laid out efforts to create, produce and maintain military equipment.

该计划旨在部署100个营，其中包括800个由S-350、S-400和S-500系统组成的发射器。根据俄罗斯国家军备计划（也称为GPV-2027）的最新版本，资金将用于生产S-500“普罗米修斯”。上一个版本，GPV-2020，部署了设计、生产和维护军事装备的工作。

 

Russia began developing the S-500 in 2010, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which tracks the status of air and missile defense systems. In 2011, Russia unveiled plans for two new plants to produce the S-500; they opened in 2016. According to Russian media, one S-500 system would cost an estimated $700 million to $800 million in 2020, and up to $2.5 billion dollars in 2023.

据跟踪防空和导弹防御系统状况的战略与国际研究中心称，俄罗斯于2010年开始研发S-500。2011年，俄罗斯公布了两个新工厂生产S-500的计划；它们于2016年启动。据俄罗斯媒体报道，一个S-500系统在2020年的成本估计为7亿至8亿美元，2023年将高达25亿美元。

 

In 2019, production of the S-500 began for the Aerospace Forces, according to the head of Russian defense conglomerate Rostec, Sergey Chemezov. The Defence Ministry and local company Almaz-Antey signed a contract for the supply of more than 10 S-500s in 2021, with the first delivery expected in 2022, Tass reported during the 2021 MAKS air show.

据俄罗斯的国防集团俄罗斯国家技术集团(Rostec)的负责人谢尔盖·谢梅佐夫说，2019年，航空航天部队开始生产S-500。塔斯社在2021年MAKS航展上报道，国防部和国有公司"安泰-金刚石"公司签署了一份合同，在2021年供应10多套S-500，预计将在2022年首次交付。

 

Also in 2021, the 1st Special Purpose Air and Missile Defense Army, whose primary mission is the defense of Moscow, received its first S-500 system. However, the system arrived in a reduced configuration that did not meet the full requirements of the defense force. Experts who spoke to Defense News specifically cited the lack of exoatmospheric missiles.

同样在2021年，以保卫莫斯科为主要任务的第一特种防空导弹防御军收到了第一个S-500系统。然而，该系统的配置有所减少，无法满足国防军的全部要求。接受《防务新闻》采访的专家们特别提到了大气层外导弹的缺乏。

 

“Almaz-Antey and other air defense manufacturers are currently producing products aimed at meeting the needs of a military operation,” Jerdev said. “Neither the S-500 nor the Abakan air defense system have targets in Ukraine — the ballistic missiles — so their production is not a priority.”

“安泰-金刚石公司和其他防空制造商目前正在生产旨在满足军事行动需求的产品，”杰德夫说。“S-500和阿巴坎防空系统在乌克兰都没有目标——弹道导弹——所以它们的生产不是优先事项。”

 

Launch capabilities

发射能力

 

Available information about the S-500 indicates it can defeat threats at a range of 600 kilometers (373 miles) and an altitude of up to 200 kilometers (124 miles). But Russian media recently reported the S-500′s range is closer to 500 kilometers and can reach an altitude of up to 100 kilometers.

有关S-500的现有信息表明，它可以在600公里（373英里）的射程和200公里（124英里）的高度击败威胁。但俄罗斯媒体最近报道称，S-500的射程接近500公里，最高可达100公里。

 

Defense News was unable to independently verify either of the specifications.

《防务新闻》无法独立核实这两种规格。

 

According to analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the S-500 can launch several interceptor missiles, including “the 40N6M for use against aircraft and cruise missiles, and the new 77N6 and 77N6-N1 to counter ballistic missiles or satellites.” The 40N6M has a range of 400 kilometers, while the 77N6 series interceptors can reportedly reach a range of 500-600 kilometers, the think tank found.

根据战略与国际研究中心的分析，S-500可以发射几种拦截导弹，包括“用于对抗飞机和巡航导弹的40N6M，以及用于对抗弹道导弹或卫星的新型77N6和77N6-N1。”40N6M的射程为400公里，据报道，该智库发现，77N6系列拦截弹的射程可达500-600公里。

 

“Initially, the S-500 was positioned as a system better than THAAD [the U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system] with the possibility of exoatmospheric interception. At the same time, it had to be more compact than the S-400. However, the S-500 does not turn out to be more compact,” Pavel Luzin, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis think tank, told Defense News. “In addition, the 40N6 rocket, which is equipped with the S-500, is already used in the S-400 and is not unique.”

“最初，S-500被定位为比萨德（美国制造的末段高空区域防御系统）更好的系统，有可能进行大气层外拦截。同时，它必须比S-400更紧凑。然而，S-500并没有变得更紧凑，”欧洲政策分析中心智库高级研究员帕维尔·卢津告诉《防务新闻》。“此外，配备S-500的40N6火箭已经在S-400中使用，并不是唯一的。”

 

Combat crews of the S-400 air defense system take up combat duty at the training ground in the Brest region during military drills in Belarus. (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

在白俄罗斯的军事演习中，S-400防空系统的战斗人员在布雷斯特地区的训练场执行作战任务。（俄罗斯国防部新闻处通过美联社）

 

In 2014, reports noted the S-500 was to launch 77N6-H and 77N6-H1 missiles. Since then, the development of the former was confirmed, but the status of the latter, meant to be able to destroy satellites in low Earth orbit and feature a low-yield nuclear warhead, is unclear.

2014年，有报道指出，S-500将发射77N6-H和77N6-H1导弹。从那时起，前者的发展得到了证实，但后者的地位尚不清楚，后者旨在摧毁近地轨道上的卫星，并具有低当量核弹头。

 

“According to its characteristics, the S-500 seems to be superior to the S-400, but it falls decently short of THAAD — there is no exoatmospheric interception. The dimensions of its 77N6-N anti-missiles are smaller than the PRS-1M/53T6 missiles of the Nudol [anti-satellite] system, [therefore the former’s] interception height is lower,” Luzin said.

鲁津说：“根据其特点，S-500似乎优于S-400，但与萨德（THAAD）相差甚远——没有大气层外拦截。其77N6-N反导弹的尺寸小于Nudol（反卫星）系统的PRS-1M/53T6导弹，因此前者的拦截高度更低。”。

 

According to a Russian colonel who spoke on the condition of anonymity for safety, the second stage of the 77N6-N anti-aircraft missile is identical to the second stage of the 9M82MV missile used by the S-300′s V4 variant. The first stage has aerodynamic controls that maintain efficiency only in the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere layers, about 50 kilometers above Earth’s surface, the colonel added. If it were to maneuver in low orbit areas, the 77N6-N would require a compact and light third combat stage, but there is no such stage.

根据一位为安全起见要求匿名的俄罗斯上校的说法，77N6-N防空导弹的第二级与S-300 V4变种所使用的9M82MV导弹的第三级相同。上校补充道，第一级具有空气动力学控制，仅在地球表面上方约50公里的平流层上层和中层下层保持效率。如果要在低轨道区域机动，77N6-N将需要一个紧凑轻便的第三战斗级，但目前还没有这样的级。

 

Experts interviewed by Defense News doubt the 77N6-N and 77N6-N1 missiles can provide the S-500 with the accuracy required for its mission. These missiles were supposed to be the first Russian missiles with inert warheads, but the domestic industry has been unable to acquire the necessary quality of electronics, Luzin and the colonel each told Defense News.

接受《防务新闻》采访的专家怀疑，77N6-N和77N6-N1导弹能否为S-500提供任务所需的精度。鲁津和这位上校分别告诉《防务新闻》，这些导弹本应是俄罗斯第一批携带惰性弹头的导弹，但国内工业一直无法获得必要质量的电子产品。

 

Furthermore, the minister of industry and trade, Denis Manturov, said in June that the S-500 will be able to intercept hypersonic missiles. However, the S-500 has not undergone testing for this capability, the colonel explained, and it doesn’t appear Russia has target missiles that would mirror the characteristics of a hypersonic weapon.

此外，工业和贸易部长丹尼斯·曼图罗夫在6月表示，S-500将能够拦截高超音速导弹。然而，这位上校解释说，S-500还没有经过这种能力的测试，而且俄罗斯似乎没有反映高超音速武器特征的靶标导弹。

 

Plans for an S-550

S-550的计划

 

The State Armament Program is also expected to accomplish by 2027 the creation of the S-550, an anti-missile and anti-space system with improved detection capabilities and a greater range compared to the S-400 and S-500. The Aerospace Forces are to receive the S-550 by 2025.

国家军备计划预计还将在2027年前完成S-550的研制，这是一种反导弹和反太空系统，与S-400和S-500相比，其探测能力有所提高，射程更大。航空航天部队将在2025年前接收S-550。

 

Putin in November 2021 emphasized the importance of supplying S-550 systems to the military during a meeting with defense and industry officials, according to Shoigu.

绍伊古表示，2021年11月，普京在与国防和工业官员的会议上强调了向军方供应S-550系统的重要性。

 

That same month, Chemezov, the Rostec chief executive, said the S-550 would feature a longer detection range and improved missile range compared to existing air defense systems.

同月，俄罗斯国家技术集团(Rostec)首席执行官切梅佐夫表示，与现有防空系统相比，S-550将具有更长的探测距离和改进的导弹射程。

 

Experts interviewed by Defense News differed in their assessments of the S-550′s potential capabilities, but did agree the system will complement the capabilities of the S-500, and that its main purpose will either be to defeat hypersonic targets or satellites.

接受《防务新闻》采访的专家对S-550的潜在能力的评估存在分歧，但他们一致认为，该系统将补充S-500的能力，其主要目的将是击败高超音速目标或卫星。

 

There is currently no evidence Russia has developed the S-550.

目前没有证据表明俄罗斯已经研制出S-550。

 

About Maxim Starchak

马克西姆·斯塔查克简介

 

Maxim Starchak is a Russia correspondent for Defense News. He previously worked as an editor for the Russian Defence Ministry and as an expert for the NATO Information Office in Moscow. He has covered Russian nuclear and defense issues for the Atlantic Council, the Center for European Policy Analysis, the Royal United Services Institute and more.

马克西姆·斯塔查克是美国国防新闻频道的俄罗斯记者。他曾担任俄罗斯国防部的编辑和莫斯科北约信息办公室的专家。他曾为大西洋理事会、欧洲政策分析中心、英国皇家联合服务研究所等机构报道过俄罗斯的核和国防问题。