S400 Missile System History Facts

S400 Missile System History Facts 

Development Origins:

The S-400 began development in the late 1980s by Russia’s Almaz Central Design Bureau (now Almaz-Antey) as an upgrade to the S-300 family. Initially intended to replace the S-200 system, early attempts in the 1980s were rejected due to high costs and inability to counter cruise missiles. 

The project was revived under the codename "Triumf" to address aircraft, cruise missiles, and stealth technology. 

The Soviet Union approved the program in 1991, but the USSR’s collapse delayed progress

2015: Successful test of the 40N6 missile at 400 km range

Purpose and Evolution:

Designed to counter advanced threats like stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and UAVs, the S-400 is a fourth-generation SAM system. 

It integrates with legacy S-300 missiles and is complemented by its successor, the S-500, for hypersonic and orbital threats.

Key Facts About the S-400

Technical Specifications:  

Range: Up to 400 km (40N6 missile), with other missiles covering 250 km (48N6), 120 km (9M96E2), and 40 km (9M96E).  

Altitude: 

Up to 30 km for air targets; 40 km ceiling for some missiles.  

Targets:

 Can engage aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. It can simultaneously track 300 targets and engage 36 (some sources claim up to 80).  

Missiles:  

40N6: 400 km range, active radar homing for long-range targets like AWACS or stealth aircraft.  

48N6DM: 

250 km range, for aircraft and ballistic missiles.  

9M96E/E2: 

40–120 km range, designed for precision strikes on fast-moving targets like fighter jets.  

Future 77N6 missiles (in testing) will use hit-to-kill technology for ballistic missile defense, similar to the U.S. Patriot PAC-3.  

Radars:  

91N6E Big Bird: 

600 km detection range for tracking.  

92N6E Grave Stone: 

Guides missiles for short- and medium-range targets.  

Additional sensors like Moscow-1 and Orion enhance detection and jamming capabilities.  

Mobility: 

Deployable in 5 minutes, with a top speed of 60 km/h on roads and 25 km/h off-road.  

The system includes multifunction radars, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile launchers, a command-and-control center, and mobile launch vehicles (e.g., BAZ-64022 trucks). 

Each battalion has 8 launchers, with 4–16 missiles per launcher depending on missile type.

Which nations are Using S400 

China: 

Purchased six battalions in 2014, but reports suggest Russia delivered a simplified version with limited functions to protect technology.  

India: 

Signed a $5.43 billion deal in 2018 for five squadrons, named “Sudarshan” in Indian service. First unit delivered in 2021, deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) in Punjab-Jammu & Kashmir. 

Full delivery expected by 2026, delayed by Russia-Ukraine war sanctions.  

India’s acquisition enhances its defense against China and Pakistan, covering vast airspace.  

Turkey: 

Received systems in 2019, causing tensions with NATO and U.S. sanctions under CAATSA.  

Belarus: 

Deployed S-400s for regional defense.  

Iran: 

Reportedly received systems in 2024 to counter potential Israeli strikes.  

Uses in War and Conflicts -

Syria (2015–Present):

Russia-Ukraine War (2022–Present)

India-Pakistan Context:  India utlizes successuly  S400 against Pakistan on 8 May 2025 

India’s S-400s, deployed along the LoC and LAC, are intended to counter Pakistani and Chinese air threats, including fighters (e.g., F-16) and ballistic missiles. Their 400 km range covers much of Pakistani airspace, altering regional dynamics. No combat use reported yet

Watch Video - Russian anti-aircraft missile system S-400 in action