The Russian developed the S-400, an advanced air defense system that has a range up to 550 km and targets over 400 km. It can engage a wide range of targets, including fighter jets, ballistic missiles, strategic cruise missiles and aircraft five metres above the ground. It has advanced electronic warfare systems as well as long-range surveillance radars. India, Turkey, China, and China have all been interested in the S-400.
The S-400 system has undergone many upgrades and refinements over the years. The first successful tests were performed in 1999. It has many capabilities including long range, large targets selection and a command point that coordinates all missiles. Typically, an S-400 system includes six to eight missile complexes.
It can track and locate a wide variety of targets, including ships and aircraft. It features rapid frequency-hopping and agile beam-steering to intercept targets. It can track a target from up to 600km away. Additionally, it features a long-range surveillance system to give a full view of the entire airspace. The S-400 is able to detect, track and engage targets up to five metres above ground. It also boasts one of the strongest surface-to-air missile system in the world.
In the past few years, several prominent testing failures have occurred with the S-400 system. However, there is little reason to doubt that Russia has learned from these mistakes and is now producing a system that is up to the challenge. In addition, the S-400 has been upgraded with newer software.
The S-400 is capable of detecting and tracking targets at ranges of 600 km, and it can engage up to 36 of them at once. It can also be used as an antiballistic missile system. The S-400 is also equipped with a variety of radars, including the KRTP-91 Tamara (Trash Can) and the 86V6 Orion (Mask). It is compatible with many different emitter locating devices, including the 85V6 Orion Vega (Vega), and the 59N6 GE Protivnik GE. It is capable of tracking stealthy aircraft and has been named the "missile the millennium."
The S-400 does not have the only high-range and numerous features of an air defense system. Currently, a Russian similar system is under development, the NGAD. The S-400, however, has many advantages over the NGAD. These include speed and modularity. It is also capable tracking and engaging large numbers targets. The S-400 can be deployed in minutes. The S-400 is also more difficult to engage when networked with AWACS.
Although the S-400 can be an impressive weapon system it is still limited. For example, its range can also be a problem in a large scale conflict. It is also susceptible to volume attacks, which are common in peer-level combat.
The S-400 can't do everything the NGAD is capable of. A larger integrated air defence system will be more effective. Budget restrictions limit the S-400's effectiveness.