Russia Makes Large Scale Deployment of S-500 Air Defence Systems to Secure Crimea

<p >The Russian Armed Forces have deployed their sole regiment of S-500 long range air defence systems to protect the Kerch Strait Bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula to the Russian mainland, reflecting concerns in Moscow that Ukraine and its Western supporters could seek to target it as they escalate strikes deeper into Russia. Reports of this development follows confirmation in late December that the armed forces had <a href=" >formed their first full regiment </a>equipped with <a href=" >S-500 long range air defence systems</a>, marking an important milestone in plans to deploy them across the country. While each regiment of the older <a href=" >S-400 air defence system</a> deploys 16 surface to air missile launchers alongside associated mobile radars and command centres, however, the number of launchers under each S-500 regiment remains unknown. The S-500 entered service in 2021, following over half a decade of delays, and provides an additional layer to the Russian air defence network above the S-300V4 and S-400 systems, but below the A-235 that protects Moscow from ICBM strikes. It is the world’s first mobile surface to air missile system with anti-satellite and anti-ICBM capabilities, and is prized for its powerful sensors facilitating 800km detection ranges, its unrivalled 600 kilometre engagement range, and its ability to intercept targets at high hypersonic speeds. </p><p ><img src=" title="Missile Battery From S-500 System"></p><p >In June the head of the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence Directorate Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov reported that the Russian Armed Forces had <a href=" from an S-500 system in Kerch City near the disputed Crimean Peninsula. Following a <a href=" light from Washington </a>to launch strikes deeper into Russian claimed territory, there was widespread speculation that Ukrainian forces, operating with considerable support from Western advisors on the ground and<a href=" collection assets</a> in the air <a href=" in space</a>, would attempt an attack on the Kerch Strait Bridge using newly U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short range ballistic missiles. A longer range variant of the ATACMS using a single high explosive warhead, rather than cluster warheads, had at the time recently begun to be operated, and would be particularly well suited for such strikes. Elements from the S-500 system were expected to serve as force multipliers for existing air defence assets including multiple battalions of S-400s. The concentration of S-500 systems to protect the Kerch Strait Bridge highlights the impacts which serious delivery delays has had, with the systems originally envisioned to protect major cities and strategic locations in the Arctic and Pacific by the mid-2020s. </p><p ><img src=" title="Attack on Kerch Strait Bridge"></p><p >As a $4 billion infrastructure project, the Kerch Strait Bridge has been a primary potential target for Ukrainian and allied attacks due to both its symbolic value linking Crimea to mainland Russia, and to its military importance allowing Russian forces to redeploy. While Western sources have called for attacks on the bridge since shortly after its construction in May 2018, a bombing on October 8, 2022 took it out of commission for several hours and caused three deaths, which was quickly commemorated in Kiev with a celebratory postage stamp. This was followed by a Ukrainian drone boat attack on the bridge in July 2023, which also caused damage that was quickly repaired. European states have<a href=" strongly </a>for unrestricted missile attacks very deep into Russia, with London and Paris being among the most active in this regard, and beginning attacks on internationally recognised Russian territory with Ukrainian forces on November 20. </p><p >Missile attacks launched from November have represented a major escalation, and have been guided by <a href=" >vast networks of Western satellites </a>and supported by <a href=" >major deployments</a> of Western Bloc advisors and other specialists on the ground. The missile strikes reportedly achieved some significant successes against Russian forces in the Kursk region, including <a href=" >destroying</a> components of an S-400 air defence system in late November. There has been some speculation that the S-500’s deployment may be intended to utilise its anti-satellite warfare capabilities to potentially target Western Bloc satellites used to guide attacks against Crimea, and the Kerch Strait Bridge in particular, should these escalate, with its deployment thus intended to deter Kiev and its Western supporters from pursuing such steps.</p>