The Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system has long attracted the attention of the military and specialists around the world, and news of the emergence of export contracts heightens interest and contributes to the start of new disputes at various levels. In such a situation, the foreign press cannot stand aside, and therefore makes attempts to study the complex, its history and prospects. So, the other day, the American edition of The National Interest announced its vision of the S-400 air defense system and related processes.
On October 20, Security and The Buzz featured an article by Charlie Gao entitled “Why Russia's S-400 Is No Joke (And Why No Air Force Wants to Fight Against It)” - “Why Russia's S-400 is not a joke. And why no Air Force wants to fight him. The title of the article traditionally revealed its topic and indicated the main conclusions of the author. The subtitle of the article was the question: what do the S-400 and S-300 have in common?
Ch. Gao begins his article by reminding that the S-400 complex is currently one of the main reasons for controversy in its class of technology. So, many countries of the world are interested in acquiring such systems, and the United States is imposing sanctions for the very fact of purchasing these complexes. Despite this, in April and September 2018, China and India signed contracts under which they will receive new complexes. In this regard, the author asks questions. For what reason has the S-400 complex caused such a stir? How did this system evolve from the older S-300 project?
The author recalls that the development of the S-300 air defense system started back in the sixties of the last century. This system was considered as a future replacement for the existing ones, primarily for the S-75. The C-75 (SA-2) complex became widely known after the successful defeat of the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft over the Urals, as well as in connection with the deployment and use in Cuba and Vietnam. A new model of the anti-aircraft complex to replace it was tested in the seventies, and in 1978 it entered service.
The main difference between the S-300 project from the previous ones was the multi-channel. The system could simultaneously use several beams to target missiles at different targets. Ch. Gao recalls that the older S-25 air defense system also had similar capabilities, but its equipment was too large and heavy, which is why it existed only in a stationary version. The first American multichannel complex - SAM-D (later renamed MIM-104 Patriot) - entered service in 1981, i.e. 3 years after the S-300.
The main customer of the latest missile system was the air defense of the USSR. For use in air defense, a modification of the complex called S-300PT was developed. Subsequently, all versions of the air defense system with the letter "P" were supplied to the air defense forces. The S-300PT consisted of launchers, radar stations and other components on self-propelled and towed chassis. The complex also included a separate vehicle with control systems. The proposed appearance of the complex, in general, corresponded to the tasks set, but still was not ideal.
Having studied the experience of operating air defense systems in Vietnam and the Middle East, the Soviet military came to certain conclusions. Increased mobility was considered a key factor in improving combat effectiveness. The deployment and preparation for operation of the towed components of the S-300PT took about an hour and a half, which did not fully suit the military. At the same time, the complex could use 5V55 missiles with a firing range of about 75 km.
Later, modernization was carried out, and the S-300 complex acquired its usual current appearance. The means of the complex were placed on a special MAZ-7910 chassis (later they were mounted on newer machines and semitrailers): they became carriers of radars, control cabins and launchers. Additional components of air defense systems for one purpose or another were proposed to be installed on trucks of other classes. The complex thus updated was designated as S-300PS. It entered service in 1982. On its basis, an export version of the air defense system called the S-300PMU was developed. In the new project, in addition to the new chassis, an improved 5В55Р rocket with a range of up to 90 km was used.
Simultaneously with the S-300P complex, two other specialized systems were created for the air defense forces. For the ships of the navy, the S-300F air defense system was proposed, for the military air defense - the S-300V. Ch. Gao notes that one of the goals of the S-300V project was to protect troops from enemy tactical missiles, including those with nuclear weapons. The S-300V was supposed to shoot down not only planes, but also Lance or Pershing missiles.
One of the key features of the S-300V air defense system is the architecture of self-propelled launchers. It includes two types of such machines. One carries four containers with 9M83 missiles capable of hitting targets at ranges up to 75 km. The second launcher is equipped with only two containers with 9M82 products, providing shelling at ranges of up to 100 km. The launcher, radar station and command post of the S-300V air defense missile system, to improve mobility, are built on the basis of a tracked chassis. The latter is a modified version of the chassis of the self-propelled artillery unit 2S7 "Pion". The S-300V was commissioned in 1985.
Subsequently, Soviet designers developed both land complexes. The modernized S-300PM air defense system combined the capabilities of the S-300P and S-300V systems, thanks to which it could fight both aerodynamic and ballistic targets. The export version of the S-300PM was marked with the letters "PMU". The author notes that the further development of the S-300P line led to the emergence of new opportunities and ended with the development of the modern S-400 complex.
Indeed, initially the S-400 air defense system bore the designation S-300PMU-3 and, in fact, was the third option for updating the existing air defense complex. This system was first shown at the MAKS-2007 exhibition, and then many noted that most of its components were outwardly similar to the means of the S-300PMU-2 complex.
Advances in missile and radio-electronic technology have yielded understandable results. The modern S-400 complex has approximately two-fold superiority over the existing systems of its class. In particular, new radar detection systems allow the S-400 complex to monitor the situation and confidently identify all the main threats.
The second key feature of the S-400 complex is the composition of its weapons. It is capable of carrying and using missiles of four types, differing from each other in weight, flight and combat characteristics. Thanks to this, the complex can independently organize echeloned air defense of a given area. Such possibilities increase the flexibility of the complex application. In addition, the modern S-400 can use a number of existing anti-aircraft missiles, previously developed within the framework of projects of the S-300 family.
Rockets of the latest models, intended for the S-400, are expected to increase the range of the complex. With their help, the air defense missile system can hit aerodynamic targets at distances up to 240 km. In this respect, the new complex turns out to be a further development of the previous systems. So, the S-300PMU-1 could attack aircraft at a distance of 150 km, while for the S-300PMU-2 this parameter reached 200 km. Moreover, with the help of the new 40N6 missile, the modern complex can shoot down targets at ranges of up to 400 km.
Having considered the history and capabilities of a modern anti-aircraft missile system, the author of The National Interest goes to the essence of this project. Ch. Gao claims that the current S-400 is actually a continuation and development of older systems. It, like its predecessors, is a mobile system designed for air defense forces. In terms of characteristics and capabilities associated with the development of technology, the S-400 proves to be a big step forward. Especially when you compare it with the early samples of the S-300P family. However, despite this, we are still talking about the gradual development of the same family, and not about fundamentally new developments.
As an example of another approach to the development of anti-aircraft systems, Ch. Gao mentions the progress of modernizing the systems of the S-300V line. To date, within the framework of this family, the S-300V4 and S-300VM air defense systems (export designation "Antey-2500") have been created. In the new projects of the "B" line, modern missiles and electronic systems are used to ensure the destruction of targets at ranges of 200 km - at the level of the S-300PMU. In addition, a new self-propelled launcher was developed with its own guidance radar antenna. This made it possible to reduce the number of complex components requiring their own chassis.
The article ends with curious but ambiguous conclusions. The author points out that at first glance, the S-400 complex looks like a breakthrough in its field. However, in fact, we are talking about the gradual and unhurried development of early air defense systems of the S-300 family. Many of the advanced functions and capabilities of the new complex, such as intercepting ballistic targets, the ability to use older missiles and the presence of several target channels, were also available in older models of technology. Thus, the new S-400 complex is based on existing developments and solutions from previous projects, which provide certain advantages. Leveraging existing solutions as well as new ideas makes it even more effective and deadly.
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A new article in The National Interest on Russian air defense assets in its headline promises to tell why the S-400 complex is not a joke, and why the air forces of third countries would prefer not to mess with it. Indeed, the publication reveals both issues in detail, and, moreover, indicates not only the current state of affairs, but also the situation of past years and decades.
Of greatest interest in the article "Why Russia's S-400 Is No Joke (And Why No Air Force Wants to Fight Against It)" are the conclusions of its author, made at the end. He does not consider the modern Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system to be a real breakthrough in its field. At the same time, he points out that this air defense system was the result of a long and productive development of existing systems and ideas laid down in the first projects of the S-300P family. Thus, over several decades, Soviet and Russian designers were able to collect the best solutions and ideas, implement them using a modern element base and use all this to create a modern air defense system with high performance.
Charlie Gao's article explains in some detail why the S-400 is not a joke. At the same time, it did not directly reveal the second question in the title. The publication does not explicitly indicate for what reasons the air forces of third countries would prefer not to deal with the Russian S-400. However, the known data on the characteristics and capabilities of this complex can serve as an answer to the question of interest. Indeed, the pilots of the potential enemy have every reason to be concerned about the S-400 systems.
