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| A Russian S-400 air defense missile system. (Source: TASS) |
"In the 21st century, the S-300 is perhaps the most well-known and recognizable air defense system in the world ," the article states.
The S-300PMU-1 system was introduced in 1992 and represents a major upgrade over older systems: its 48N6 missiles have a range of 195 km and a speed of Mach 5.8. They are smaller, allowing for launch from mobile platforms and leading to a revolutionary increase in the survivability of Russian long-range air defense systems.
The American publication Military Watch considers this air defense system a significant milestone in the development of air defense forces.
Next, the Russian military developed the S-00PMU-2 and S-300PMU-3 air defense systems, later renamed S-400. Observers note that this system has a range of 250 km, later increased to 400 km, and its hypersonic missiles can intercept enemy flying objects at speeds above Mach 8.
"That significant milestone in the development of this platform explains how it has acquired such an important position in the defense of Russia," the author of the article stated.
The main differences between the S-400 and its predecessors, the S-300, are the more advanced electronic equipment and the addition of four new missile types to the system, allowing users to customize the missiles carried to enhance combat capabilities against specific targets.
The operational range of the S-400 missile system is 40-120 km with the 9M96 missile, 250 km with the 48N6 missile, and up to 400 km with the 40N6 missile.
The S-400 is more capable than the S-300. It can detect targets up to 600 km away and at altitudes of 40-50 km, and can track 300 targets simultaneously. Although called a high-altitude missile system, the S-400 is actually a multi-range missile system, capable of engaging targets such as aircraft at an altitude of 27 km. The S-400 can destroy enemy aircraft at distances up to 400 km and intercept ballistic missiles at distances of 60 km.
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