Russian Arms Exports |

Back by Poplular Demand: Russia’s S-400 In The News Again

by David Parmer / Tokyo

In February 2017 we reported about Russia’s “killer app,” the powerful S-400 Triumf missile system. The Triumf is back in the news and reports are showing that it is getting not only a lot of interest, but firm orders from countries around the world. Countries mentioned include India, China, and Turkey. Military.com (21 March2018) reports that there is also interest from the Gulf states of Qatar and Saudi Arabia in an area that has traditionally been a US arms preserve. In 2017 Iran’s Tasnim News (28 August 2017) quoted a Russian official in charge of arms exports as saying at least 10 orders for S-400 systems were being processed.

Business Insider (19 January 2018) reports that delivery of S-400 systems to China is now ongoing. Placing these missiles in Fujian province will give the PRC coverage of the Taiwan airspace, a significant leg-up if armed hostilities develop between Taiwan and the PRC down the road. Negotiations for sales of the system to India and Turkey are ongoing.

So why the interest in the S-400? Well, the answer might be found in a somewhat-gloating article in Russia’s RT news (21 March 2018). The S-400 is the best anti-aircraft, anti-missile system available today for export. It far out-performs its nearest rival, the venerable American Patriot missile system which has been around for about 30 years. The Triumf’s missiles are faster, can fly higher and can be launched much quicker.

Russia has also been deploying these missiles to Syria since 2015. Besides supporting its client state, and intimidating America and its clients, this could also be seen as a way to collect performance data in an active combat zone.

Right now American and European hi-tech manufacturers must be engaged in some serious catch-up to try to come up with powerful and versatile equipment to match what Russia has already fielded. In the meantime, Russian cash-registers will ring-up sales, and this most-lethal system will be seen in more and more places around the globe.

Do you have any thoughts on this? Please let us know.

Russia RT News article on Triumf

Photo: Russia Ministry of Defense

The S-400 Triumf–Russia’s “Killer App”

by David Parmer/Tokyo

Are you having a busy week? OK, here is the bottom line of this article to save you time reading the whole thing. Bottom line: if it flies, Russia’s S-400 Triumf air defense missile system can knock it out of the sky.

The S-400 Triumf (NATO designation SA-21 Growler) can track 300 targets, has a range of 400 km, and its missiles can reach an altitude of 30km. A battery of S-400 has eight launchers, a control center, radar and a basic load of 16 missiles.

The S-400 is designed to eliminate all sorts of aerial targets including:

Bombers
AWACS
U2
Advanced generation fighters
Cruise missiles
Ballistic missiles

Moreover, the S-400 can detect stealth and non-stealth aircraft at extended ranges. The Triumf can also function as part of an integrated air defense system, (IADS) a system that nullifies, to a certain extent, the opponent’s stealth technology and jamming capabilities.

The S-400 is not a “new” system. It was first rolled out by Russia in 2007 and is now in operation in Russia as well as being deployed in Syria. As a matter of course, Russia has supplied its own needs before turning to export inquiries. Indeed, there seems to be no shortage of potential buyers including Turkey and Vietnam among others.

India, for one is eager to get its hands on the S-400; it plans to place three systems in its western region and two systems in its eastern region. There was much fanfare in October 2016 over the signing of an S-400 arms deal with Russia, but no delivery date has been announced publicly.

The PRC is also a prime customer for the S-400 system. A report in Sputnik News on 15 February 2017 quotes Rostec State Corporation as saying China’s systems are now under production. This is good news for China, but worrisome for China’s potential opponents.The S-400 will not only let China guard its own airspace, (A2/AD) but also extend its coverage to airspace over Taiwan and the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands.

The S-400 system isn’t new, but all reports suggest it is one of Russia’s best “killer apps” when it comes to weapons systems and global arms sales.

Photo: Russian S-400 Missile System via Financial Express