Everything You Need to Know About India’s New S-400 Missile Defense System

According to Rosoboronexport director-general Alexander Mikheev, Russia has begun delivery of the long-awaited S-400 surface-to-air missile defense system to India. The first regiment should be delivered by the end of 2021. Mikheev told the news service, Sputnik, that all the equipment of the first regimental set of S-400s would be delivered to India by the end of 2021. We plan to send specialists to India as soon as the New Year arrives to hand over the equipment.

Even though the Trump administration objected to the S-400 air defence missile system deal, India signed the USD 5 billion contract in October 2018 for five units. In 2019, Russia received the first installment of around USD 800 million from India for the missile system. According to reports quoted by ANI, the S-400 missile system will first be stationed near the western border, where it can counter threats from both China and Pakistan. In the future, the missile defense system will be deployed along the eastern border, according to sources.

What is S-400 Missile Defence System:

• As well as being known as C-400 - Triumph (Triumf) in Russian, or SA-21 Growler in NATO, the S-400 Missile Defense System is also known as the S-300 PMU-3. An upgraded version of the S-300family of surface-to-air missiles, the S-400 is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system developed by Russia's Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering.
• During the month of August 2007, the first platoon of the most advanced surface-to-air missile system entered combat duty. The S-400 system entered service on April 28, 2007.
• Besides a multifunction radar, S-400 Triumph has a missile system, command and control system, and autonomous detection and targeting system. Three types of missiles may be fired by it to create an effective layered defense.
• In addition to aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), ballistic, and cruise missiles, the system can engage all types of aerial targets within 400km at altitudes up to 30km. 36 target engagements can be carried out simultaneously by the system.
• Compared to previous Russian air defense systems, the S-400 is twice as effective and ready to deploy within 5 minutes. In addition, it can be integrated into existing and future air defense systems deployed by the air force, the army, and the navy.

The S-400 Missile Defence System consists of the following components:

The anti-Stealth targeting range for the 91N6E panoramic radar has been declared to be 150 km. Maximum detection ranges (as determined by the radar's characteristics) are:

• 230 kilometers for ballistic targets
• 390 km for a target with an RCS of 4 square meters
• 570 km for a target of strategic bomber size

Radar and equipment used by the 96L6 high-altitude detector (TSBS) operate independently of those used by the 96L6E low-level radar detector. When operating in mountainous terrain, the 96L6E2 export version is resistant to false returns of clutter and can track a maximum of 100 targets. Various functions can be performed by it, including being a command post for S-300 battalions (SA20/20A/20B) or S-400 aircraft. A 96L6-1 of S-400 and S-500 can also be used. These serve as the battalion command posts.

A re-transmitter using PBU 55K6E can cover a maximum distance of 100 km between the command centre and the battalion of 98ZH6E. In conjunction with BAZ-64022 or MAZ-543M tractor-trailers, missiles are launched from self-propelled 5P85TE2 launchers or trailer-launched 5P85SE2 launchers. Increasing mobility while reducing fuel consumption was one of the goals in 2014 when a new transporter type was introduced. Transporter costs in 2014 came to 8.7 million rubles.

Missiles of S-400 Missile Defence System:

• Each system can control up to eight battalions, with up to 72 launchers capable of launching up to 384 missiles, including missiles with a range of up to 250 kilometers.  
• As missiles emerge from the launch tubes, they soar upwards for up to 30 meters before rocket motors are ignited.
• The missile was successfully fired at the 400 km range at the end of April 2015; due to their large size, the transporter erector launchers (TELs) may only hold two missiles instead of four missiles as in the past.
• There was also an active radar homing head 9M96 missile that reached a height of 56 kilometers in another test.
• Each missile is equipped with a directed-explosion warhead, significantly increasing the likelihood of complete destruction.
• Russia also acquired new guided missiles for its S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft missile forces in 2016.
• As well as destroying aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, the anti-aircraft missile system is also capable of attacking ground targets. Due to their low-altitude flight paths, cruise missiles can be intercepted at a distance of about 40 km by the S-400.

Targets for the S-400 Missile Defence System include:

• Aircraft like the B-1, B-2, FB-111, and B-52H was used for strategic bombing
• EA-6 and EF-111A electronic warfare airplanes
• TR-1 reconnaissance aircraft
• An early-warning radar aircraft, such as the E-3A and E-2C
• A fighter plane such as the F-15, F-16, F-35, or F-22
• Tomahawk - Strategic cruise missiles
• Ballistic missiles which have range up to 3,500 km
• 4.8 kilometers per second is the maximum radial velocity for all purposes; 5 kilometers per second is the absolute limit, while zero is the minimum.
• It takes 9–10 seconds for the system to respond.
• Complexes can move at speeds up to 60 kilometers per hour on the road and up to 25 kilometers per hour off the road.
• Approximately seven to eight launchers cost $200 million