According to news published by the Russian press agency TASS, India could be the first foreign customer of the new Russian-made S-500 also named 55R6M and nicknamed Triumfator-M or Prometheus, the latest generation of Russian surface-to-air defense missile system.
During an interview on the Russian TV channel RBC, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov has announced that India may be the first foreign buyer of Russia’s most advanced S-500 air defense missile system.
“Beyond a doubt, once we deliver this system to our troops, India will be the first on the list if it expresses its desire to buy these advanced armaments,” said the Russian Prime Minister. Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on July 20 that the S-500 air defense system conducted a successful test-launch against a fast-moving ballistic target at the Kapustin Yar proving ground.
The S-500 Prometheus, Russian designation 55R6M is a Russian-made mobile air defense missile system designed to target and destroy a wide range of aerial threats including aircraft, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The S-500 missile is manufactured by the Russian company Almaz-Antey. The first tests of the S-500 were conducted in 2015 and the production began in 2017.