MOSCOW. – Construction of S-500 Zenith Missile System is at least two years behind schedule, Izvestia daily of Russia writes. The new surface-to-air missile system will become the backbone of Russia’s missile defense. The System’s construction will end in 2015 and its serial production will commence in 2017. The delay is due to technical complications.    

The S-500 will differ from its preceding S-400 by its more supersensitive radar, which can spot the target from at least 800 kilometers, and the new missile will build up a speed of 7 kilometers per second.