S 400 Triumf is considered to be the most powerful operational air defense system in
the world.
Most experts agree that any aircraft, even the 5th generation stealth fighters will find
it very difficult to operate in an airspace guarded by the system.
Russia has now successfully completed trials of a new long-range surface to air missile
designed for S-400.
As per the source in the country’s military and industrial complex, the 40N6 missile was
tested at Kapustin Yar firing range in southern Russia.
The 40N6 missile is expected to be put into service before the end of this summer.
In this video, Defense Updates analyzes how the new 40N6 missile will make S 400 even deadlier?
Let’s get in the details.
Unlike most air defense system, S 400 deploys multiple missiles to cover its full strike envelope.
Currently, 3 missiles equip the system.
1. Long-range 48N6 (250 km) with an active radar homing head having a speed of Mach 14
2. Medium-range 9M96E2 (120 km) with an active radar homing head having a speed of Mach 3
3. Short-range 9M96E (40 km) with an active radar homing head having a speed of Mach 2.6
Since these are missiles having active radar homing head, they can make the last sec directional
changes by themselves after being guided to the target by ground radars of S 400 in the
initial phase.
This makes them very hard to shrug off once they get a lock on a target.
The primary radar of S 400 is either the 91N6E Big Bird Acquisition and Battle Management
Radar or 92N6E Grave Stone Multimode Engagement Radar
These have a range of around 600 km.
So, the S 400 has the capability to guide longer-range missile than its current once.
Also, it must be noted that the main radar is complimented by target acquisition radars
like 67N6 Gamma De and 9N6 Protivnik Ge radars in L band, Nebo SVU in the Very High-Frequency
band and Nebo m & Zebu M in multiband.
Nebo SVU & Zebu M have claimed capability against stealth aircraft.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the new 40N6 missile will be capable of hitting
targets at a maximum range of 400 kilometers and reach a height of 185 km.
It has a speed of Mach 14 and is equipped with active radar homing head.
The working of the missile is unlike a regular surface to air missile.
The missile is designed to reach very high altitude and then hurl down to the target
from that altitude like a ballistic missile.
Because of its long range, the missile will be able to take down AWACS, Bombers and Electronic
Warfare aircraft at standoff distances.
The 40N6 missile will also be potentially capable of exo-atmospheric interception of
IRBM (Intermediate-Range Ballistic missile) warheads in their terminal phase.
Not only this, the missile poses a real challenge to stealthy aircraft like F 22 Raptor and
F 35 Lightning II.
Since, the missile follows a ballistic trajectory so it’s active radar homing heads will be
illuminating the target aircraft from above at some angle, where the stealth shape of
the aircraft won’t be as effective as when being illuminated from under the airframe.
Also, this missile will pick up speed on the dive like an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic
Missile), as opposed to regular missiles that loose speed in the final leg.
This will make it even harder to beat.
The 40N6 is a large missile and is equipped with 300 meters radius fragmented blast warhead.
So, even if the missile doesn’t score a direct hit and has a near miss, the target
would still be destroyed.
The 40N6 will certainly add more lethality to the already dreaded S 400.