S-400 Triumf: Indians Anxious As Russian AD System ‘Struggles’ In Ukraine War; Should IAF Worry? (Part1)
Ukraine claimed to have hit Russian S-400 and S-300 systems in Crimea in an overnight strike on June 10. The statement came after a series of explosions were reported in the peninsula at night.
One S-400 air-defense missile unit was reportedly hit near Dzhankoi, and two more S-300 anti-aircraft missile units were attacked near Chornomorske and Yevpatoria. Russia’s S-400 Triumf air defense system, which is globally recognized for its unmatched capability, has an estimated price tag of around $1.2 billion.
On 15 October 2016, during the BRICS Summit, India and Russia signed an Inter-governmental Agreement (IGA) for the supply of five S-400 regiments to India. The US$5.43 billion deal (₹40,000 crore) was formally signed on 5 October 2018, ignoring the threat of US sanctions.
Commencing 2020, Russia was supposed to deliver the five squadrons by early 2024, but the supplies suffered delays due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and payment complexities. Three systems have been delivered and have been operationally deployed by the Indian Air Force (IAF), covering the threat from across the two borders. Russia will now deliver the remaining two S-400 air defense systems to India by August 2026.
Russia, China, Turkey, and Belarus already operate the S-400, and many more have shown interest. Even the American security establishment has acknowledged the effectiveness and lethality of this very potent air defense system. Any loss of the system in combat conditions requires a revisit to check operational effectiveness and defense capability.
Ukrainian Attack Against S-400
Four S-400 launchers were destroyed in mid-April along with other equipment in an attack on a Russian military airfield in Crimea, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) reported.
Ukraine reportedly also struck and significantly damaged a ferry crossing in Kerch with U.S.-provided long-range ATACMS missiles overnight on May 30. Moscow actively uses the ferry crossing to supply Russian troops in Crimea. The peninsula and ferries are defended by Russian Pantsir, Tor, and S-400 Triumph air defense systems.
Ukrainian strikes destroyed MiG-31 and Su-57 fighter jets, forcing Russia to recalibrate its strategy. Ukrainian drone strikes have also hit targets, even in Moscow. Clearly, Russia has not been able to defend a few important operational assets.
MGM-140 ATACMS
The Lockheed Martin MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is an American tactical ballistic missile that has been in service since 1991 and was recently supplied to Ukraine.
This 1,670 kg weapon, solid propellant, Mach 3 missile has a range of 300 kilometers, and a launch system costs nearly $1.4 million. It uses GPS-aided inertial navigation guidance. The precision attack missiles can be fired from the tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and the wheeled M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
In October 2023, a year and eight months after the Russian invasion, the United States delivered ATACMS to Ukraine. The use of these missiles threatened the entire Russian land corridor in southern Ukraine.
It further placed within reach the vast majority of the airbases operated by Russia inside Ukraine (north of Crimea) and complicated Russia’s use of attack helicopters against Ukrainian targets. On 17 April 2024, six explosions were reported at the Dzhankoi airbase in Crimea. Some of these missiles deployed cluster munitions.
On April 20, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an additional $61 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, which included the delivery of the longer-range version (300 km) of ATACMS. Shorter range variants have a 165 km range.
In June 2020, the US Army tested a new multi-mode seeker—an upgrade for the Precision Strike Missile. The missile will enter service in 2024. Current operators of the ATACMS variants are the USA, Bahrain, Greece, South Korea, Romania, Poland, Turkey, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine.
S-400 Triumf Air Defence System
The S-400 Missile System is a Russian mobile long-range surface-to-air/anti-ballistic missile system that entered service in August 2007. Its missiles and battery cost around $1.2 billion.
It has four radars and four missiles that cover a range of 40 to 400 kilometers, thus covering a huge AD bubble. The system is the successor to the S-300, and the next version is the S-500. The S-400 Triumf and Pantsir missile systems can be integrated into a two-layer defense system.
The S-400 administrative complex can coordinate eight battalions. The mobile command and control center has a panoramic radar detection system with a 340 km range and is well protected against jamming.
Eight battalions of surface-to-air missile (SAM) combat systems parked up to 40 kilometers apart are fully integrated and can track targets independently. A single system can manage 72 launchers, with a maximum of 384 missiles. The battalion’s multi-functional radar can track 20 targets. A transporter-erector-launcher on a trailer can have 12 launchers.
The kill zone for a ballistic missile target (RCS < 0.4 square meters) is 200 km. For a target with an RCS of 4 square meters, it is 340 km.
It is 400 kilometers for a strategic bomber-sized target. Due to their low-altitude flight paths, the S-400 can intercept cruise missiles at a range of about 40 km. The missiles use semi-active or active radar homing.
Ukraine claimed to have hit Russian S-400 and S-300 systems in Crimea in an overnight strike on June 10. The statement came after a series of explosions were reported in the peninsula at night.
One S-400 air-defense missile unit was reportedly hit near Dzhankoi, and two more S-300 anti-aircraft missile units were attacked near Chornomorske and Yevpatoria. Russia’s S-400 Triumf air defense system, which is globally recognized for its unmatched capability, has an estimated price tag of around $1.2 billion.
On 15 October 2016, during the BRICS Summit, India and Russia signed an Inter-governmental Agreement (IGA) for the supply of five S-400 regiments to India. The US$5.43 billion deal (₹40,000 crore) was formally signed on 5 October 2018, ignoring the threat of US sanctions.
Commencing 2020, Russia was supposed to deliver the five squadrons by early 2024, but the supplies suffered delays due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and payment complexities. Three systems have been delivered and have been operationally deployed by the Indian Air Force (IAF), covering the threat from across the two borders. Russia will now deliver the remaining two S-400 air defense systems to India by August 2026.
Russia, China, Turkey, and Belarus already operate the S-400, and many more have shown interest. Even the American security establishment has acknowledged the effectiveness and lethality of this very potent air defense system. Any loss of the system in combat conditions requires a revisit to check operational effectiveness and defense capability.
Ukrainian Attack Against S-400
Four S-400 launchers were destroyed in mid-April along with other equipment in an attack on a Russian military airfield in Crimea, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) reported.
Ukraine reportedly also struck and significantly damaged a ferry crossing in Kerch with U.S.-provided long-range ATACMS missiles overnight on May 30. Moscow actively uses the ferry crossing to supply Russian troops in Crimea. The peninsula and ferries are defended by Russian Pantsir, Tor, and S-400 Triumph air defense systems.
Ukrainian strikes destroyed MiG-31 and Su-57 fighter jets, forcing Russia to recalibrate its strategy. Ukrainian drone strikes have also hit targets, even in Moscow. Clearly, Russia has not been able to defend a few important operational assets.
MGM-140 ATACMS
The Lockheed Martin MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is an American tactical ballistic missile that has been in service since 1991 and was recently supplied to Ukraine.
This 1,670 kg weapon, solid propellant, Mach 3 missile has a range of 300 kilometers, and a launch system costs nearly $1.4 million. It uses GPS-aided inertial navigation guidance. The precision attack missiles can be fired from the tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and the wheeled M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
In October 2023, a year and eight months after the Russian invasion, the United States delivered ATACMS to Ukraine. The use of these missiles threatened the entire Russian land corridor in southern Ukraine.
It further placed within reach the vast majority of the airbases operated by Russia inside Ukraine (north of Crimea) and complicated Russia’s use of attack helicopters against Ukrainian targets. On 17 April 2024, six explosions were reported at the Dzhankoi airbase in Crimea. Some of these missiles deployed cluster munitions.
On April 20, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an additional $61 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, which included the delivery of the longer-range version (300 km) of ATACMS. Shorter range variants have a 165 km range.
In June 2020, the US Army tested a new multi-mode seeker—an upgrade for the Precision Strike Missile. The missile will enter service in 2024. Current operators of the ATACMS variants are the USA, Bahrain, Greece, South Korea, Romania, Poland, Turkey, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine.
S-400 Triumf Air Defence System
The S-400 Missile System is a Russian mobile long-range surface-to-air/anti-ballistic missile system that entered service in August 2007. Its missiles and battery cost around $1.2 billion.
It has four radars and four missiles that cover a range of 40 to 400 kilometers, thus covering a huge AD bubble. The system is the successor to the S-300, and the next version is the S-500. The S-400 Triumf and Pantsir missile systems can be integrated into a two-layer defense system.
The S-400 administrative complex can coordinate eight battalions. The mobile command and control center has a panoramic radar detection system with a 340 km range and is well protected against jamming.
Eight battalions of surface-to-air missile (SAM) combat systems parked up to 40 kilometers apart are fully integrated and can track targets independently. A single system can manage 72 launchers, with a maximum of 384 missiles. The battalion’s multi-functional radar can track 20 targets. A transporter-erector-launcher on a trailer can have 12 launchers.
The kill zone for a ballistic missile target (RCS < 0.4 square meters) is 200 km. For a target with an RCS of 4 square meters, it is 340 km.
It is 400 kilometers for a strategic bomber-sized target. Due to their low-altitude flight paths, the S-400 can intercept cruise missiles at a range of about 40 km. The missiles use semi-active or active radar homing.
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