S-400 Triumf/ comparison with other Defence system

The S-400 Triumf (NATO: SA-21 Growler), developed by Russia’s Almaz-Antey, is one of the most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems globally, designed to counter aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

Relevance : UPSC Pre & Mains

Prelims : The S-400 Triumf)/other defence systems

Mains :  GS 2 –IR/ GS 3-Security /Science & Dev.)

Range and Altitude:

S-400: Offers a maximum range of 400 km (with the 40N6E missile) and altitude of 30–35 km, covering a broad spectrum of threats from low-flying drones to high-altitude aircraft. Its layered defense uses four missile types (40 km, 120 km, 250 km, 400 km), providing flexibility across ranges.

Patriot PAC-3: Reaches 180 km (PAC-3 MSE missile) and 25 km altitude. While effective, its range is shorter than the S-400, limiting its coverage against distant threats.

THAAD: Has a 200 km range but excels at high-altitude interception (150 km), making it ideal for exo-atmospheric ballistic missile defense. It’s less versatile for low-altitude or aircraft threats.

HQ-9: The HQ-9B variant reaches 250 km and 50 km altitude, offering decent range but falling short of the S-400’s maximum reach. Older HQ-9P variants are limited to 125 km.

David’s Sling: Extends to 300 km but is capped at 15 km altitude, focusing on mid-range threats like cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles.

SAMP/T: The Aster 30 missile reaches 120 km and 20 km altitude, suitable for tactical defense but less effective for long-range or high-altitude threats.

 Target Engagement and Tracking:

S-400: Can track 300 targets and engage 36 simultaneously, guiding up to 72 missiles. Its 91N6E Big Bird and 92N6E Grave Stone radars provide 360-degree coverage and anti-stealth capabilities, though detection of stealth aircraft like the F-35 is limited to shorter ranges (30–97 km).

Patriot PAC-3: Tracks 125 targets and engages 36, with phased-array radars optimized for ballistic missiles and aircraft. Its performance against stealth targets is less clear but likely inferior to the S-400.

THAAD: Limited public data on tracking capacity, but each battery (6–8 launchers) can engage 8–16 ballistic missiles. It lacks broad anti-aircraft capabilities, focusing solely on missiles.

HQ-9: Tracks 100 targets and engages 8–10, with improvements in the HQ-9B variant. Its radar is less advanced than the S-400’s, and simultaneous engagement is limited.

David’s Sling: Estimated to engage 16 targets, with precise tracking for cruise missiles and tactical threats. Specific tracking numbers are less documented.

SAMP/T: Tracks 100 targets and engages 10–16, with agile Aster 30 missiles effective against maneuvering threats. Its integration with NATO systems enhances coordination.

HQ-9 and SAMP/T lag in simultaneous engagements, while THAAD and David’s Sling are more specialized.

Versatility:

S-400: Highly versatile, using four missile types to create a multi-layered defense against aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. It operates in dense electronic warfare environments with anti-jamming measures.

Patriot PAC-3: Versatile for both aircraft and ballistic missiles, but its missile options are less diverse than the S-400’s. It’s battle-proven in conflicts like Yemen and Ukraine.

THAAD: Strictly an anti-ballistic missile system, ineffective against aircraft or low-altitude threats. It requires pairing with other systems like Patriot for comprehensive defense.

HQ-9: Handles aircraft, cruise missiles, and short-range ballistic missiles. While versatile, it’s less flexible than the S-400 due to fewer missile options and weaker radar.

David’s Sling: Focuses on cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, and drones, complementing Israel’s Iron Dome and Arrow systems. It’s less versatile for long-range or high-altitude threats.

SAMP/T: Effective against aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles. Its Aster 30 missiles offer flexibility, but it’s less comprehensive than the S-400.

 Radar and Electronic Warfare:

S-400: Features advanced phased-array radars (600 km detection range) with anti-stealth and anti-jamming capabilities. Its networked integration enhances situational awareness. Vulnerabilities include potential saturation by low-flying cruise missiles or standoff attacks.

Patriot PAC-3: Uses phased-array radars (180 km detection for aircraft, 100 km for missiles) with robust electronic countermeasures. Its integration with NATO systems improves coordination but may struggle against stealth targets.

THAAD: Employs AN/TPY-2 radar (up to 1,000 km detection for missiles) optimized for high-altitude threats. It’s less effective against low-altitude or stealth targets.

HQ-9: Has phased-array radars with a 300 km detection range (HQ-9B). Anti-stealth claims are unverified, and its electronic warfare resilience is considered inferior to the S-400.

David’s Sling: Uses advanced EL/M-2084 radar for precise tracking of mid-range threats. Its electronic warfare capabilities are strong but less documented for stealth targets.

SAMP/T: Features Arabel radar (120 km detection) with good anti-jamming performance. Its NATO integration enhances resilience in contested environments.