S-400 Air Defence System

The S-400 is a mobile long-range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) system that was developed by Almaz-Antey, a state-owned corporation in the Russian Federation. It is capable of eliminating a wide variety of aerial adversaries, such as stealth fighter jets, bombers, cruise and ballistic missiles, and even unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It carries two separate radar systems that can detect aerial targets up to a range of 600 kilometres and can simultaneously engage 80 aerial targets. Additionally, it possesses four distinct types of missiles that are capable of engaging beyond visual range (BVR) targets up to a range of 400 kilometres, and it also carries beyond visual range (BVR) targets up to a range of 400 kilometres. 

Development history of S-400 

In the late 1980s, as the Cold War was winding down, work on creating the S-400 system was under way. In January of 1993, the Russian Air Force made the initial announcement regarding the S-400 system. On February 12, 1999, the first successful tests were carried out, and it was intended for deployment in the Russian Army in the year 2001. On the S-400 project, Almaz-Dr. Antey’s Alexander Lemanskiy served as Chief Engineer as the company’s representative.

However, it was clear by the year 2003 that the missile system was not yet ready for deployment, and as a direct result of this realisation, new design systems were put into place. In February of 2004, it was stated that the project had been successfully completed, and in April of that same year, a test of an enhanced version of the 48N6DM missile successfully intercepted a ballistic missile.

The system was given the go-ahead for service in 2007, and ever since then it has been in operation. 

Components of the S-400 function 

An integrated multifunction radar with autonomous detection and targeting systems is included in the S-400 Missile System. In addition to that, it comprises command and control missiles as well as launchers for anti-aircraft missiles. It is able to fire the following missiles in order to provide multiple layers of defence:

• 48N6DM: Capable of eliminating aerial targets up to 250 kilometres away. 

• 40N6: The 40N6 is an active radar homing system that can allegedly reach a distance of 400 kilometres and is used to intercept air targets that are located at large distances.

• 9M96E: This missile, the 9M96E, is capable of striking moving targets with a high degree of accuracy, even fighter aircraft.

• 9M96E2: The 9M96E2 is a variation of the 9M96E air-to-air missile that has a medium range and is designed for a direct impact descent trajectory. Both versions of the 9M96 missile have a range of 102 kilometres.

Additionally, the system is able to communicate and share data with other types of defence systems, including the SA-12, SA-23, and S-300.

Within a range of 600 kilometres, the radar has the capability to identify and track ballistic rockets, cruise missiles, guided missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and aircraft. It is able to keep tabs on up to 300 targets at the same time. 

Facts about the S-400 

• In 2017, a number of professionals in the field of military technology referred to the S-400 as “one of the best air-defence systems currently being made.”

• Targets include all different kinds of aircraft, ranging from ballistic and strategic cruise missiles to fighter jets like the F-16 and everything in between.

• The reaction time of the system is 9–10 seconds.

• The complex is capable of travelling at speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour (37 miles per hour) on roadways and up to 25 kilometres per hour off-road (16 mph).

• According to Pravda, the state newspaper of Russia, the cost of one battalion (which includes approximately 7–8 launchers) is approximately US$200 million. 

India and the S-400

At the BRICS Summit on October 15, 2016, India and Russia signed an Inter-governmental Agreement (IGA) for the supply of five S-400 regiments. The signing took place during the summit. On October 5, 2018, despite the prospect of economic sanctions from the United States, the US$5.43 billion (40,000 crore) transaction was officially inked.

In comparison to the missile defence systems supplied by the United States, the S-400 was selected as the superior option because of its flexibility, precision, and breadth of capabilities.

Because India opted for the Russian-made S-400 missile defence system rather than the American-made Patriot PAC 3, the United States threatened India with economic sanctions in response to India’s choice to purchase the S-400 system from Russia.

The fact that the S-400 can capture electronic data from any aircraft that it shoots at could be one of the reasons that the United States is concerned about it. Since India also operates aircraft made in the United States, such as the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter and the C-17 Globemaster heavy transport aircraft, the country cannot afford to take the chance that the information pertaining to these aircraft will, in some way, end up in the possession of its former Russian competitors.

India has announced that it will go through with its commitment in buying the S-400 from Russia, despite the fact that there is a threat of sanctions looming over it. This is in spite of the reservations expressed by its American partners. 

Conclusion 

A multifunction radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and a command and control centre are all integrated into the S-400 Triumph air defence system. It can launch three different kinds of missiles, giving it the ability to construct a layered defence. Within a range of up to 400 kilometres and at a height of up to 30 kilometres, the system is capable of engaging any and all sorts of aerial targets, such as aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), as well as ballistic and cruise missiles. This device is capable of concurrently engaging up to 36 different targets.