S-500 nears completion of its test phase..

via Janes.

Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov has told media that research and development (R&D) for the S-500 long-range surface-to-air missile system is in its final phase, the TASS news agency reported on 24 April. "I'm talking about the completion of research and development and the subsequent beginning of batch production. I can now say that the R&D work is about to be completed," Manturov is quoted as saying.

TASS also said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had earlier said that the system would begin to be provided to the armed forces in 2020.

The Aerospace Force Academy in Tver has been training operators for the system since 2017.

That's a pretty cut and dry article isn't it.  Well I found this on Moscow Times...

 The S-500 missile flew 80 kilometers further than any previous test and successfully engaged a target 480 kilometers away, the CNBC business outlet reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of U.S. intelligence about the Russian weapons program.

Developed by Almaz-Antey, Russia’s largest defense contractor, the S-500 is touted as capable of intercepting stealth warplanes.

Last week President Vladimir Putin ordered defense officials to lay the groundwork for mass production of the S-500, saying the system is “capable of operating at ultra-high-altitudes including near space.”

Story here. 

Impressive range.  Question.  How do you defeat a system like this?  Penetrating an advanced, layered air defense system seems to me to be suicide.

You must do as we've always done.

Peel it back.

That means we need long range missiles capable of at least being able to duel at distance.  We need advanced electronic warfare platforms to knock back their detection range.  Probably need unmanned aircraft that can get in close without risking aircrew.

And mostly we need the will to do the hard thing instead of always seeking a magic bullet/tech.