The S-400 Triumf is one of the most popular weapon systems today. This popularity causes
a lot of comment about it. Even, major international crises are occurring, because of the S-400.
In fact, some of these comments reflect the truth, yet others are exaggerative. It is
just a weapon system with some advantages and weaknesses like others. As the Weapon
Detective, we are investigating the S-400 and what is true and what is exaggerative
about it. Please don't forget to subscribe to our channel,
before we start and give us a thumbs up if you like our video. To be notified of our
new video, please click the bell button. As a highly capable air defence missile system,
the S-400 is one of the major systems of Russia's defence strategy based on the Anti Access
/ Area Denial doctrine. Its NATO reporting name is SA-21 Growler.
Many analysts accept the S-400 as an all-star who, with its superior capabilities, can make
it team a champion. However, please remember that without the
right teammates, the right coach, and the right tactics, no all-star alone can make
a team champion. Before starting our analysis, let's take a
look at the history and capabilities of the S-400.
The development of the S-400, called S-300PMU-3 at the beginning, began in the late 1980s.
It was an evolved version of the S-300. After the dissolution of the USSR, Russia
announced the existence of the project in 1993. Its first successful fire test conducted
in 1999. In 2004, the system became ready for serial production. In the same year, the
S-400 intercepted a ballistic missile successfully in a test. It became operational in 2007.
As a general mistake, many people think that the S-400 is the name of the missile system.
However, it is the name of the complete air defence system.
A complete S-400 system consists of a 55K6E command post, a 91N6E panoramic radar, and
six to eight 98ZH6E independent surface-to-air missile combat system.
Each independent surface-to-air missile combat system consists of a 92N6E radar system, up
to 12 5P85TE2 and/or 5P85SE2 transport and launchers, and the 30TS6E technical support
system. Depends on the tactical situation many different
types of support equipment and radar can be added to the battery.
The 91N6E S-band panoramic radar detection system has a range of 600 kilometres. It is
highly resistant against jamming. The radar can track up to 300 targets simultaneously.
The 92N6E multi-functional radar of the independent surface-to-air missile combat system has a
range of 400 kilometres. It can track up to 100 targets simultaneously.
There are up to 72 launchers and 384 missiles in a complete S-400 system.
The S-400 system can fire five separate classes of missiles which answer different combat
requirements. The 40N6E is the one with the longest range.
Its maximum range is 400 kilometres. The maximum effective altitude of the missile is 30,000
metres. But it is also effective against the targets below the radio horizon at extremely
long range. With a speed of Mach 3.5, the 40N6E can be used against a target that travels
with a speed of Mach 14. The missile has semi-active radar guidance and active radar guidance options.
When it is used with the active radar guidance system, the missile climbs to designated altitude
first, then guidance switches to search and destroy mode.
The S-400 uses the 48N6E3 missiles against targets at ranges of up to 250 kilometres.
Its effective altitude is about 60,000 metres. With a speed of Mach 5.9, the missile is effective
against a target with a speed of Mach 14. It has a semi-active radar guidance. The 48N6E3
can perform the manoeuvres up to 22 g. The third missile the 48N6E2 has the maximum
range of 200 kilometres. Its maximum speed is Mach 5.9. The missile is effective the
targets with the speed of Mach 8.2. The 48N6E2 has semi-active radar guidance system.
The 9M96 and 9M96E2 have 120 kilometres maximum range and 30,000 metres effective altitude.
These active radar-guided missiles can reach the speed of Mach 2.9. They are highly effective
against unmanned ariel vehicles and cruise type missile. The 9M96 and 9M96E2 can perform
the manoeuvres up to 20 g at its maximum altitude. So, they are highly effective against short
and medium-range ballistic missiles. The S-400's missile with the shortest range
is the 9M96E with 40 kilometres. Its effective altitude is about 20,000 metres. This active
radar-guided missile also has optical and infrared-guided versions. Thanks to their
guidance system, these versions can be used against stealth treats. The 9M96E is highly
effective against low-flying targets. These missiles are launched vertically. A
gas system launches missiles from the launch tubes up to 30 metres into the air.
After that, the rocket motor is ignited. With eight 98ZH6E independent surface-to-air
missile combat system the S-400 can engage 80 targets simultaneously.
Belarus, China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have already preferred the S-400.
This information is available in many open sources. Let's move on to the analysis part.
First of all, as we mentioned in the beginning, although the S-400 is an all-star, it is not
a lonely hero, but a team player. It can not alone protect an area with a radius of 400
kilometres with the 40N6E missile. It has to be used together with many other
systems such as different types of air defence missile systems, fighter-interceptors, and
early-warning aircraft. The 91N6E radar can not operate with full
efficiency within its 600-kilometre range. Because the world is not flat, as the range
increases, it becomes impossible to detect a target at a low altitude.
Besides, within the 600-kilometre area, many obstacles such as mountains directly affect
the detection capability. This shortcoming has to be compensated by
the forward radars and/or the airborne early-warning systems.
That is why, although it declares that the S-400 is effective at a range of 2 to 400
kilometres, Russia continues to supply new generation Buk and Tor systems for its air
defence units. It also reinforces the S-400 batteries with
the Pantsir for self-defence. The maximum range data described for a missile
is the data of range in an environment where all conditions are optimal. Many factors such
as pressure, air density, temperature, wind speed, and the altitude of the launcher affect
the range. Besides, a missile works its engine intermittently
during its flight so does not spend its propellant continuously. When it has to change its course,
it is necessary to run its engine at higher performance than normal flight. The range
of the 40N6E decreases whenever it redetermines its vector towards its target, according to
the target's evasive manoeuvre. In other words, the missile can reach its target at a range
of 400 kilometres when it only does not manoeuvre. The effective range of a missile is not the
same as the range at which it is most effective. The long-range missiles typically have maximum
effectiveness between 40 and 60 kilometres. Afterwards, the effectiveness decreases geometrically.
For this reason, the S-400 engages the ballistic missiles within this range.
Of course, this does not mean that these missiles are completely ineffective beyond 60 kilometres
these missiles are completely ineffective. An aircraft entering an area defended by the
S-400 is still in danger. However, it has a better chance of saving
itself with evasive manoeuvres, decoys, and electronic warfare.
The Swedish Defence Research Agency also agrees with us.
It claims that the S-400 can be effective against low-flying targets at the range of
only 20 kilometres and its actual effective range is between 150 to 200 kilometres.
Also, many analysts state that if an air defence missile launched against a target 400 kilometres
away, then the altitude of the target must be roughly 9,000 meters or more.
If the target flies lower than this altitude, the radar of the S-400 can not detect it.
But, please do not forget that the S-400 is an element of an integrated air defence system.
The forward radars and/or airborne early warning system can detect and illuminate this type
of threat. So, thanks to its network-centric warfare
capability, the S-400 can attack it. Even so, in 2015, Russia claimed that a successful
test firing of the missile was conducted at an air target at a range of 400 kilometres.
Yet, the target drone was probably flying in the most suitable conditions for the test
and did not simulate evasive manoeuvres. Nowadays, the S-400 makes a name for itself
with the crises it causes in the political arena rather than its technical capability.
Because of this system, the USA has cancelled the sales of the F-35 to Turkey.
But, why Turkey has chosen the S-400 instead of the F-35? According to our analyze, Turkey
did not intend to make such a radical choice actually. It could not foresee that the situation
would get out of its hand. On November 24, 2015, a Turkish F-16 had shot
down a Russian Su-24 sfor border violation. Naturally, this caused a serious crisis between
the two countries. While this crisis arose, Turkey was experiencing
serious problems with its Western allies. Also, the Turkish Air Force had been seeking
to supply a long-range air defence system with anti-ballistic missile capability for
many years. However, all previous tenders had failed.
Ankara had planned to kill three birds with one stone by the procuring the S-400.
First of all, tense relations with Russia would soften.
Also, this purchase was a warning to the Western allies. Ankara was making a bluff with making
eyes at Moscow. Finally, the air force's needs would be met
with a highly effective system. But all plans fell through.
Although relations between Turkey and Russia softens, it still has not improved as desired.
Yet, by this sales, Moscow gained money and has managed to drive a bigger wedge between
Ankara and its Western Allies. At the end of 2020, the USA imposed sanctions on the
Republic of Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries under Section 231 of the Countering
America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.
This institution is Turkey's highest authority responsible for purchases and sales of defence
equipment. So, because of this sanction, Turkey cannot
buy any military hardware of software from the USA.
Also, it cannot sell them to this country. Thanks to the offset agreements made, many
Turkish companies work as subcontractors of the leading US companies. It means the Turkish
companies will lose a significant amount of money.
Yet this sanctions also have a back door. If Ankara would give the selling and buying
responsibility of defence systems to another institution, it can avoid these sanctions.
As we mentioned earlier, the S-400 is just one of the elements of an integrated air defence
umbrella. Without having other elements, Turkey can
not use it efficiently. Also, the S-400 is not compliant with NATO
standards. Therefore, operating the S-400 with other
Turkish aircraft, radar, and air defence systems will cause some severe complications.
Turkey had chosen the Chinese FD-2000 for the same requirement before. However, it was
seen that applying the software and hardware updates to make the system compatible with
other elements of the Turkish Armed Forces, were not feasible, because of its high cost.
So, Turkey cancelled the project. The S-400 also has the same problem.
Of course, there are many more arguments on this topic. However, we leave the discussion
here to avoid extending our video any further. Let's discuss our arguments and other arguments
we haven't mentioned in the comments section. The S-400 is a successful air defence system
on paper. However, it is not a combat-proven system yet. Western countries are trying to
learn more about it. But, Russia is careful about hiding its true capability and is selling
only the downgraded variants of the S-400. We can say that this system will continue
to attract much more attention. And no doubt, We will see more exaggerative good and bad
comments about the S-400 in the future. Thanks for watching our video. And please
don't forget to subscribe to our channel and give us a thumbs up if you like our video.
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