The system is capable of destroying targets in [[outer space]]. A special feature is its ability to work on a wide range of targets at ranges up to 600 km and at altitudes up to 200 km. In February 2024 the Russian military shot down several [[hypersonic missile]]s in tests. The latest complex also successfully hit and destroyed the [[intercontinental ballistic missile]] Seniva.
Former General Director of the Almaz-Antey corporation Igor Ashurbeili in 2011 said, "For interception of ballistic missiles, the S-500 will “mostly” use nuclear warheads because these can destroy the entire cloud of incoming warheads with no need to determine true threats from dummies”. As per some sources, the S-500 system can detect ballistic missiles at a range of 2000km 2000 km or 1242 miles and warheads of ballistic missiles at a range of 1300 km or about 810 miles. It may be able to defeat [[ballistic missile]]s before their warheads re-enter the [[atmosphere]]. S-500 system is said to be capable of tracking 5-20 ballistic targets and intercepting up to 5-10 ballistic targets simultaneously. This will enable the system to take on a saturation attack from the enemy.
Due to the massive range of the S-500, experts believe it will be able to take out low-orbit satellites acting as an anti-satellite weapon. Russia claims the system has a vertical range capable of destroying objects flying at near-space or 62 miles above the Earth's surface.