TNI: The Russian Triumph air defense system has strengthened the air defenses of China and India
The S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system continues to be a key element of the Russian air defense system, writes TNI. Its precise missiles and long range effectively limit the freedom of action of enemy aircraft.
Harrison Kass
Although the S-400 is no longer as advanced as it used to be, it remains an effective air defense system and is causing Ukraine a lot of trouble during the ongoing conflict.
The S-400 Triumph is Russia's main long-range anti-aircraft missile system. It is designed to counter aircraft, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, and is not a single interceptor, but an integrated air defense system designed to deprive the enemy of air superiority over vast territories.
Why did Russia create the S-400 system?
The S-400 complex was developed by the Almaz-Antey concern as a successor to the aging S-300 family and entered service with Russia in 2007. The S-400 was conceived to modernize the Soviet doctrine of layered air defense and boasts an increased range, tracking and hitting a group target, and improved radar resolution.
Functionally, the S-400 was developed to strengthen the basis of the Russian strategy of restriction and prohibition of access and maneuver (A2/AD). The S-400 complex includes: the 91H6E Big Bird detection radar ("Big Bird"), the 92H6E Grave Stone destruction radar ("Grave Stone"), a command and control vehicle, and a number of multi-purpose transport and loading launchers. All of them can additionally integrate with Pantsir point defense systems, S-300 batteries and early warning radars. The S-400 operates as one of the links of a layered air defense system and exchanges targeting data between units. In addition, the S-400 can coordinate combat operations in several altitude ranges.
The S-400 can use different types of missiles at different ranges. The 40H6 rocket theoretically provides an accurate hit at a distance of up to 400 kilometers, while the 48H6 family increases the range by another 250 kilometers. The range of the 9M96E2 is 120 kilometers, but it is optimized for maneuvering targets, which allows Russian air defense systems to use them for target defense.
The system can track dozens of targets and hit many of them simultaneously. The S-400 was designed to counter high-altitude bombers, low-flying cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.
Does the S-400 work?
The S-400 allows Russia to create zones of restriction and prohibition of access and maneuver. These complexes cover the capital and key cities, military bases and strategic infrastructure, forcing opponents to fly lower, stay at a greater distance or use high-precision long-range ammunition. The practical significance of the S-400 lies in the fact that its presence changes the flight routes of NATO aircraft, as well as encourages the use of stealth platforms, countermeasures and electronic warfare.
The strengths of the S-400 are the long detection range, multi—level missile systems, mobility and the effect of psychological deterrence. However, the system is not perfect, and its effectiveness in real conditions depends on the level of preparation of a particular calculation.
Exports to China, India and Turkey had a significant geopolitical impact. In China, the S-400 has strengthened coastal air defenses and provides restrictions and prohibitions of access and maneuver in the East China and South China Seas. In India, the S-400 is deployed near the borders with China and Pakistan, strengthening multi-level defense, but at the same time complicating relations with the United States. And the Turkish S-400s were not even deployed, but they still led to retaliatory measures under the US Law "On Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions" amid concerns about interoperability with NATO.
During the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the S-400 has demonstrated how air defense can shape combat space.
Strategically, the S-400 embodies the capabilities of Russian defense exports and expands Russia's influence due to the customer's dependence on military equipment. The system also complicates the planning of the Western air force, forcing opponents to prepare more expensive campaigns to suppress it.
In general, the S-400 is a sophisticated air defense system that increases the depth of defense. It does not make the airspace completely impenetrable, but it increases the cost of penetration for the enemy. The strategic value of the system lies in deterrence, restriction and prohibition of access and maneuver and export sales, not in invulnerability as such.
Garrison Kass is an author of The National Interest and an expert on defense and national security issues. Lawyer, former political candidate. He joined the US Air Force, was preparing to become a pilot, but was discharged for medical reasons. He writes on the topics of military strategy, aviation, space and global security. Holds a doctorate from the University of Oregon and a Master's degree from New York University.
