Russia Starts Production of S-500 Missile Systems

Production of Russia’s S-500 surface-to-air missile defense systems, having range greater than its predecessor S-400 has commenced, Sergei Chemezov, CEO of Rostec, said Sunday.

"We have begun manufacturing the new S-500 systems. The range of these systems will be higher than the popular S-400. I’d prefer not to tell about them now, they are not yet operational. I think they will enter service very soon," he said in an interview with the Deistvuyushchiye Litsa (Political Actors) with Nailya Asker-zade program on the Rossiya-1 television channel.

“The S-500 missile defense systems will be delivered to troops in the next few years, earlier than initially planned, after the completion of the tests,” Yuri Borisov, Russian Deputy Prime Minister was quoted as saying by TASS earlier this week.

However, according to Sergei Shoigu, the country’s defense minister, the deliveries of first S-500 defense systems will begin next year.