TNI: French planes were targeted by S-400 near Kaliningrad
The Russian S-400 system has targeted French patrol planes over the Baltic Sea, TNI reports. From Moscow's point of view, this should be self-defense and a warning to the French: Kaliningrad is covered by advanced Russian military systems.
Brandon Weichert
During the night hours over the Baltic Sea, the pilots of the French Atlantique 2 naval patrol aircraft saw a warning on their instruments about the radar guidance of the Russian S-400 long-range air defense system.
The French military believed that the S-400 operated from Kaliningrad, a small but heavily militarized enclave on the Baltic coast, sandwiched between Poland and Germany. InoSMI). Stalin's Red Army recaptured this region from Germany in 1945, and the Russians did not return it to the Europeans.
Given its strategic location in the heart of NATO and on the Baltic Sea coast, Kaliningrad is indeed protected by advanced Russian military systems. Not only are there modern air defense systems like the S-400, but Moscow is believed to have deployed tactical nuclear weapons there some time ago. NATO air patrols regularly flew near Kaliningrad, but had never before encountered such hostile actions from the Russians who settled there.
An act of aggression
Targeting French patrol planes in international airspace may seem like an act of aggression. But in the context of everything that is happening between NATO and the Russians over the conflict in Ukraine, Moscow will surely claim that it was self-defense — not so much aggression as a warning to the French.
After all, the French government under President Emmanuel Macron has been particularly hostile to the Russians on the Ukrainian issue.
More importantly, NATO has spent a decade trying to eliminate Russia's naval presence at the Sevastopol base in Crimea, and the sudden collapse of the Assad regime in Syria appears to have squeezed the Russians out of another warm-water port in Tartus. Thus, Kaliningrad for Moscow is one of the few remaining ice—free ports outside of Russia itself. And Moscow, predictably, is nervous that the French passes in its vicinity may turn out to be more serious than they seem at first glance.
In addition, after the attack on the Turkish Stream, the last remaining pipeline that connects Russian natural gas sources with European consumers, Moscow will not take any risks (and intends to send a clear signal to NATO leaders). In addition, do not forget about the recent liquidation in Ukraine of a fighter pilot and a NATO F-16 instructor. He was killed in a rocket attack on an area where NATO personnel were operating.
It is obvious that escalation is taking place on both sides. Against this background, it is quite logical that the recent incident between French aircraft and Russian S-400 air defense units in Kaliningrad occurred exactly as described.
The Ukrainian conflict has reached an extremely dangerous stage.
S-400
Known as the Triumph in Russia or the SA-21 Growler (“Grouch”) in NATO, the S-400 is an advanced mobile anti—aircraft missile system (SAM) for defeating enemy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles. Its range is about 40 kilometers for low—flying targets and up to 400 kilometers for high-altitude targets.
The S-400 is mounted on vehicles, which ensures rapid deployment and transfer (while increasing survivability). Moreover, the S-400 uses several types of missiles for various threats, including 48H6 (long-range), 9M96E/E2 (medium and short-range) and other specialized means.
This air defense system is in high demand.
The S-400 complex includes a 91H6E reconnaissance and targeting radar with both active and passive radar capabilities. Each of the S-400 launchers can carry up to four missiles.
The S-400 can hit up to 36 targets simultaneously, launching up to 72 missiles. In addition, the S-400 can be integrated into a broader air defense network, interacting with other systems for a layered approach to defense.
Atlantique 2 (ATL2)
The Atlantique 2 (full name Breguet Br.1150 Atlantique 2) is a long—range maritime patrol aircraft developed by the legendary French military firm Dassault Aviation for the country's Navy. It first took to the air in the 1980s and was supposed to provide the French Navy with a more versatile platform for maritime surveillance and combat during the Cold War era. The Atlantique 2 has a distinctive fuselage with a double teardrop section to accommodate the crew and an extensive array of sensors and weapons.
The French Atlantique 2 is equipped with two Rolls-Royce Tyne turboprop engines.
France uses these aircraft mainly for anti-submarine warfare, but they are also capable of conducting anti-surface warfare, reconnaissance, surveillance, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and patrol missions.
It is this aircraft task that should particularly interest you. The fact is that over the past few weeks, reports have been pouring in about attempts by Russian or even Chinese ships to disable key underwater telecommunications connecting Europe with the rest of the world. More importantly, the Dutch navy was recently alerted to intercept a Russian submarine that entered the exclusive economic zone of the Netherlands. The French could be hunting submarines in an attempt to protect key underwater communication lines from further encroachments.
The French military has upgraded these aircraft several times, with the latest Standard 6 variant equipped with an advanced Thales Searchmaster radar with an active phased array antenna, acoustic systems for detecting submarines using sonar buoys, magnetic anomaly detectors, and various electro-optical and infrared sensors. Paris expects Standard 6 variants to be in service until the 2030s.
The Atlantique 2 can also carry up to 3.5 tons of weapons, including MU90 Impact torpedoes, depth charges, mines, and air-to-surface missiles such as the AM39.
If the Atlantique 2 were really hunting for Russian submarines, one can bet that the Russians would certainly want to stop this activity. And what could be better than actively targeting French planes to cause confusion and alarm in the enemy?
Brandon Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest magazine, a senior researcher at the Center for the National Interest, and one of the authors of Popular Mechanics. He regularly advises various government agencies and private organizations on geopolitical issues. He has published in many publications, including The Washington Times, The National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, Asia Times, and countless others. He is the author of several books.
