Russia develops heavy drone, promises S500 missile system by 2017

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Russia develops heavy drone, promises S500 missile system by 2017                                                                                                                              Published time: January 25, 2015 15:59                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                     
                                                                                                                   

Anti-aircraft missile system S400 "Triumph" at a site in the Moscow region. (RIA Novosti/Grigoriy Sisoev)

                                      
The Russian military is putting the finishing touches to its very own heavy military UAV. The drone is part of a wider modernization effort, with the cutting-edge flagship S500 missile system coming in 2017.

The drone “already exists,” according to Russian Deputy  Defense Minister Yury Borisov.

The heavy UAV, created in cooperation with the Federal Security  Service (FSB), will perform “a variety of tactical,  operational and strategic tasks,” said Borisov, but he  didn’t give any further details such as the name of the vehicle.

The Russian government is expected to release several innovations  and upgrades in the near future, as part of defense  modernization. Borisov mentioned at least four current projects,  now "in their final stages of development."

The country’s latest state-of-the-art air defense system  currently at the research and development stage – the S500 – will  also appear in 2017, the deputy defense minister told RSN radio.  It is an advanced version of its predecessor – the S400 and is  designed to lock on to and intercept multiple ballistic missiles  in seconds. It possesses the ability to operate at an altitude of  up to 124 miles.

The S400 Triumf anti-aircraft system. (RIA Novosti/Mihail Mokrushin)

The new S500 is rumored to be able to engage 10 missiles at once  and have a refined radar system, as well as make speeds of up to  4.3 miles per second. It’s also expected to rival US tech, which  currently touts the RAS3 Patriot missile defense system against  the S400.


In 2015, Russia will  test its ‘Sarmat’ missile, expected for shipment before 2020.  According to the senior official, “the missile is capable of  delivering a 10-ton payload.” The super heavy liquid-propelled  intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has also received  upgrades. “It will  be able to fly over both the North and South Poles.”

In the meantime, the Russian-French standoff with the delivery of  the Mistral helicopter carriers has led to Russian readiness to  accept almost any way out of the deadlock. The Defense Ministry  disclosed on Saturday the figure it paid upfront for the Mistral  delivery that never came.

The Sevastopol amphibious assault ship of the Mistral class at the STX Europe shipyard in Saint-Nazaire. (RIA Novosti/Grigoriy Sisoev)

“We paid one billion euro upfront, France has received  payment. If it is unable to deliver Mistral, we intend to raise  the issue of the repayment of debt,” Borisov said.

The Russian side is “open to any civilized solution to this  situation,” whether it includes delivery or a return of the  money spent, he stressed. The deputy minister also pointed out  that either outcome will have no bearing on the ongoing  modernization of Russian defenses.

The Ukrainian crisis has strained relations between Russia and  France, with Paris putting on hold the delivery of the amphibious  assault ships to Moscow. President Francois Hollande is already  wary of the strain foreign sanctions are putting on Russia, which  he says are having an effect on Europe as well.

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