Russia's new generation missile system S-500 has reached the final stage of testing. Vladimir Dolbenkov, CEO of the Design Bureau of Special Machine-Building, announced that important parts of the missile system are about to finish the testing phase. “They have developed and are completing the trials of units for the surface-to-air missile system: the launcher, the elements of the multi-functional locator and the missile defence locator, the equipped chassis for the combat control post and transporters for the long-range radar system,” he said.

Russia has been training specialists to learn to operate the new system at the Military Academy of the Aerospace Force in Tver since 2017.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the delivery of the S-500 to troops will begin in 2020.