S-400 Triumf: Indians Anxious As Russian AD System ‘Struggles’ In Ukraine War; Should IAF Worry? (Part2)
A full unit can engage 36 targets simultaneously, and two missiles can engage a single target. The reaction time in case of target detection on the move is 5 minutes to launch. The service life is 20 years, and the time between major overhauls is 10,000 hours.
S-400s have protected Moscow since 2007. The Baltic Fleet in Kaliningrad received S-400 SAM systems in 2012. Russia’s Northern Fleet’s Coastal Forces had deployed S-400s. Six S-400 units had been activated for the air defense of Russia’s Novosibirsk Oblast in South-East Russia. 56 battalions were operational by 2020. In November 2015, S-400s were deployed to Syria at the Khmeimim Air Base, and later, a second S-400 unit was activated near Masyaf.
In late December 2021, the Israeli Air Force flew military jets, including F-35I, over areas protected by S-400 and Pantsir SAM in Syria and bombed Iran-backed Hezbollah militia based in Latakia. But both sides chose not to attack each other due to a mutual understanding.
Ukraine has claimed targeting Russian S-400 units since mid-2023. Finally, in April-June 2024, Ukraine launched ATACMS missiles and HIMARS rockets at a Russian military airfield in Crimea and Belgorod and destroyed a few S-400 launchers, a variety of radars, and a Fundament-M air surveillance system.
Russia has 57 batteries/battalions comprising 456 Transporter erector launchers deployed with at least 25 regiments. 28 Battalions are in the Western Sector facing Ukraine and NATO.
S-400s are deployed in Belarus. Algeria has had them since 2012. China has six systems starting in 2018. As of 2020, Turkey had 4 batteries consisting of 36 fire units and 192 missiles. Turkey has tested the S-400 against drones and F-16 fighter jets at low altitudes and reportedly had some observations.
India received the first of the five units ordered in December 2021. The third squadron was formed in February 2023. Others who have shown interest include Iran, Egypt, Iraq, and Qatar. Deals have still to fructify.
S-400 Operational Engagements
The S-400 is projected to be one of the best AD systems in the world. China bought the S-400 to take on the US threat in the Indo-Pacific and to cover its intended Taiwan invasion.
They have all been closely watching the Ukraine war and the capability of the system to defend itself and other prospective targets. For a long time, even the US has been praising the S-400 system.
In fact, they decided not to sell the F-35 to Turkey because they had acquired the S-400 system, which has the means to record crucial aircraft electronic and other parameters. With a successful ATACMS attack in which it destroyed elements of the S-400 system, more analysis is required.
The S-400 was attacked in Mospyne in the Donetsk region, which lies less than 50 kilometers from the frontline. Some reports suggest that the S-400 system was deployed in the area just a day before the attack. Videos indicate that the S-400s did try to engage the attacking missiles.
The S-400’s main long-range detection radar, the 92N6 (Grave Stone) radar, was struck. Destroying Russian AD Systems is important to carry out more surface attacks and to provide greater freedom of operations for inducting F-16s and other fighter aircraft.
Ukraine has used the ATACMS with cluster warheads that can cover the area with munitions. If radar elements are hit, it can literally disable the whole system. If they hit missiles, then they can explode and cause further damage.
S-400 Operational Dynamics & Implications For India
Any air defense system, including the famous Israeli Iron Dome, has operational dynamics and limitations when it comes to defense against low RCS ballistic or cruise missiles, rockets, or drones.
While they have been designed to defend high-value targets, they themselves will be targeted first as part of the enemy’s Suppression of Enemy’s Air Defences (SEAD). Any AD system has its own vulnerabilities.
Despite being mobile, the S-400 requires around 5 minutes to launch a missile after detection when it has to stop. Modern satellite-based and airborne ISR platforms and ELINT systems can track location. S-400 is a large system, albeit well spread out, it will be difficult to hide. Also, many times the batteries are used at static locations.
The radar antennas, command post vehicles, and missiles on launchers are quite vulnerable to rocket, missile, or large drone swarm attacks. While the S-400 has redundancies, some damage will occur, and its effectiveness will be reduced. The level of degradation of the S-400 in the recent attacks is still not known.
Often, the media backing each side tries to overplay the effects. Weapon systems manufacturers also have media on their payrolls. A platform’s success in operations gives it great advertisement mileage and, in turn, sales. Even the success of AD’s response to the Houthi and Iranian attacks on Israel was overplayed a little.
When India or China bought the S-400, it was based on known technical parameters and system tests under trial conditions. Actual combat has many variables, and trials cannot create all of these, however realistic they may be. This was the best and most comprehensible system available for the price. The fact that the US had put sanctions on the purchase of the system also confirmed its capability.
Notwithstanding the above, no knee-jerk actions are required. We should not fall into the social media and information warfare trap. Some of it may be to keep Ukrainian morale up. India and China will have a close look at the system vulnerabilities and capabilities.
Russia may also offer upgrades. India would have to exploit the system’s mobility, well-spread-out layout, and redundancies. The systems would have to be camouflaged well. The full system will not be destroyed; at best, there will be some degradation.
India acquired the systems to defend against attacks from China and Pakistan. Both will certainly target it using missile and rocket attacks, as well as drones.
India would do the same to their AD systems. We must remember that the S-400 will be a great deterrent for adversaries AEW&C, FRA, and fighters to come closer. That itself will be a significant bang for the buck. Wait and watch, and get facts first is the correct approach.
A full unit can engage 36 targets simultaneously, and two missiles can engage a single target. The reaction time in case of target detection on the move is 5 minutes to launch. The service life is 20 years, and the time between major overhauls is 10,000 hours.
S-400s have protected Moscow since 2007. The Baltic Fleet in Kaliningrad received S-400 SAM systems in 2012. Russia’s Northern Fleet’s Coastal Forces had deployed S-400s. Six S-400 units had been activated for the air defense of Russia’s Novosibirsk Oblast in South-East Russia. 56 battalions were operational by 2020. In November 2015, S-400s were deployed to Syria at the Khmeimim Air Base, and later, a second S-400 unit was activated near Masyaf.
In late December 2021, the Israeli Air Force flew military jets, including F-35I, over areas protected by S-400 and Pantsir SAM in Syria and bombed Iran-backed Hezbollah militia based in Latakia. But both sides chose not to attack each other due to a mutual understanding.
Ukraine has claimed targeting Russian S-400 units since mid-2023. Finally, in April-June 2024, Ukraine launched ATACMS missiles and HIMARS rockets at a Russian military airfield in Crimea and Belgorod and destroyed a few S-400 launchers, a variety of radars, and a Fundament-M air surveillance system.
Russia has 57 batteries/battalions comprising 456 Transporter erector launchers deployed with at least 25 regiments. 28 Battalions are in the Western Sector facing Ukraine and NATO.
S-400s are deployed in Belarus. Algeria has had them since 2012. China has six systems starting in 2018. As of 2020, Turkey had 4 batteries consisting of 36 fire units and 192 missiles. Turkey has tested the S-400 against drones and F-16 fighter jets at low altitudes and reportedly had some observations.
India received the first of the five units ordered in December 2021. The third squadron was formed in February 2023. Others who have shown interest include Iran, Egypt, Iraq, and Qatar. Deals have still to fructify.
S-400 Operational Engagements
The S-400 is projected to be one of the best AD systems in the world. China bought the S-400 to take on the US threat in the Indo-Pacific and to cover its intended Taiwan invasion.
They have all been closely watching the Ukraine war and the capability of the system to defend itself and other prospective targets. For a long time, even the US has been praising the S-400 system.
In fact, they decided not to sell the F-35 to Turkey because they had acquired the S-400 system, which has the means to record crucial aircraft electronic and other parameters. With a successful ATACMS attack in which it destroyed elements of the S-400 system, more analysis is required.
The S-400 was attacked in Mospyne in the Donetsk region, which lies less than 50 kilometers from the frontline. Some reports suggest that the S-400 system was deployed in the area just a day before the attack. Videos indicate that the S-400s did try to engage the attacking missiles.
The S-400’s main long-range detection radar, the 92N6 (Grave Stone) radar, was struck. Destroying Russian AD Systems is important to carry out more surface attacks and to provide greater freedom of operations for inducting F-16s and other fighter aircraft.
Ukraine has used the ATACMS with cluster warheads that can cover the area with munitions. If radar elements are hit, it can literally disable the whole system. If they hit missiles, then they can explode and cause further damage.
S-400 Operational Dynamics & Implications For India
Any air defense system, including the famous Israeli Iron Dome, has operational dynamics and limitations when it comes to defense against low RCS ballistic or cruise missiles, rockets, or drones.
While they have been designed to defend high-value targets, they themselves will be targeted first as part of the enemy’s Suppression of Enemy’s Air Defences (SEAD). Any AD system has its own vulnerabilities.
Despite being mobile, the S-400 requires around 5 minutes to launch a missile after detection when it has to stop. Modern satellite-based and airborne ISR platforms and ELINT systems can track location. S-400 is a large system, albeit well spread out, it will be difficult to hide. Also, many times the batteries are used at static locations.
The radar antennas, command post vehicles, and missiles on launchers are quite vulnerable to rocket, missile, or large drone swarm attacks. While the S-400 has redundancies, some damage will occur, and its effectiveness will be reduced. The level of degradation of the S-400 in the recent attacks is still not known.
Often, the media backing each side tries to overplay the effects. Weapon systems manufacturers also have media on their payrolls. A platform’s success in operations gives it great advertisement mileage and, in turn, sales. Even the success of AD’s response to the Houthi and Iranian attacks on Israel was overplayed a little.
When India or China bought the S-400, it was based on known technical parameters and system tests under trial conditions. Actual combat has many variables, and trials cannot create all of these, however realistic they may be. This was the best and most comprehensible system available for the price. The fact that the US had put sanctions on the purchase of the system also confirmed its capability.
Notwithstanding the above, no knee-jerk actions are required. We should not fall into the social media and information warfare trap. Some of it may be to keep Ukrainian morale up. India and China will have a close look at the system vulnerabilities and capabilities.
Russia may also offer upgrades. India would have to exploit the system’s mobility, well-spread-out layout, and redundancies. The systems would have to be camouflaged well. The full system will not be destroyed; at best, there will be some degradation.
India acquired the systems to defend against attacks from China and Pakistan. Both will certainly target it using missile and rocket attacks, as well as drones.
India would do the same to their AD systems. We must remember that the S-400 will be a great deterrent for adversaries AEW&C, FRA, and fighters to come closer. That itself will be a significant bang for the buck. Wait and watch, and get facts first is the correct approach.
1 yr. ago
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