S-500 Is On Line.

The info that revolutionary S-500 air and missile defense complex was already in a slow rate production was circulating since the end of the last year. Now, as Izvestia (in Russian) reports, the system has completed its trials and is fully ready for full-scale production. As always, the trick is not with S-500 itself, despite rather stunning capabilities, but in integration with a vast system of Russia's ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance), from space down to ground level, and with other systems, such as S1 Pantsir designed to deal with all kinds of nasty drones, cruise missiles and JDAM-like munitions.  

As is expected, by far not all data on actual capabilities of S-500 is available, but the range of 600 kilometers against any aerodynamic targets means one not just tactical or even operational, but fully strategic ramification--it is precisely the range within which latest versions of E3 Sentry AWACS aircraft must enter to have any impact of the target acquisition  and battle management. So, you get the idea, right? As you can see, my next book (while still not 100% completed, very close, though) is getting ready for hitting shelves this Summer, and it touches partially on these issues. No NATO Air Force is capable to fight without AWACS enabler. Without it it becomes severely degraded and an easy pick for hostile Air Force and, especially, ground-based modern AD complexes such as Buk-M2, S-400 and S1 in the "ambushes". While one may argue with Irina Alksnis' (in Russian) that Russia didn't exit from arms race, she simply won it, there is very little doubt about the fact that within last 15 years Russia designed, developed and produced some of the most revolutionary weapon systems in history, and which did change warfare and rendered old operational and strategic thinking still dominating Western military-political circles simply obsolete. My new book is precisely about it, not some tactical (well, a little bit) mental masturbation, which I gladly leave to fanboys, also known as media and internet "military experts".  

Completely forgot. Take a look at the latest Borei-A pr. 955A Prince Vladimir (Knyaz Vladimir)--a dramatically different ship, in and out, than previous three. It also looks rather menacing.