How Does the S-400 Missile Systems Work
This is the S-400 Triumph, an advanced long-range surface-to-air missile system designed to detect, track, and destroy a wide range of aerial threats. It is an upgraded version of the previous S-300 system and offers enhanced performance and capabilities.
To understand how the S-400 system functions as a whole, it is important to comprehend its components. A typical S-400 system consists of six parts: a launch vehicle with missiles, a command and control post located on a vehicle, a long-range surveillance radar known as Big Bird, an acquisition and management radar called Tombstone, an all-altitude acquisition radar, and a mobile Mass system.
The missile is one of the most crucial elements of the S-400 Triumph. It is carried by the launch vehicle, which can be either a Baz tractor truck or a Maz series transporter erector launcher vehicle. The latter can accommodate up to four launch tubes housing a variety of missiles. There are four missiles of different ranges and calibers, including a short-range missile of 40 kilometers, a medium-range missile of 120 kilometers, a long-range missile of 250 kilometers, and a very long-range missile of 400 kilometers.
The S-400 missile system comprises three types of radar systems. The first one is the Big Bird. The 91N6E Big Bird acquisition and battle management radar is mounted on an 8x8 trailer. It has a range of 600 kilometers and can detect and track aircraft, rotorcraft, cruise missiles, guided missiles, drones, and ballistic rockets. It is capable of simultaneously tracking up to 300 targets, making it one of the most advanced mobile radars.
The second radar system is the Fire Control and Target Tracking radar, known as gravestone. It is a multi-functional radar with a range of 400 kilometers and can detect targets at all altitudes. The third radar system is the 40V6 MR, which is used to detect low-flying targets that employ terrain masking to hide from radar. Some sources argue that the 40V6 is not a radar but an optional tower that can be detached from the chassis and mounted on the tower using a crane.
The Ural truck serves as the mobile command and control post for the S-400 system. It is from this post that all operations, from target detection to missile firing, are managed. The basic step-by-step process of how the system works is as follows:
The Big Bird long-range surveillance radar detects and
tracks targets, with the capability to track up to 300 targets simultaneously.
The information is then relayed to the command and control
station, which determines whether a target is friendly or hostile. The station
may also receive orders from higher command authorities.
Once permission to engage is granted, the command and
control center orders the launchers to launch the appropriate missiles based on
the range and type of targets.
The engagement radar guides the missiles to their targets.
The engagement radar and surveillance radar constantly interact to determine
the missile trajectory based on the real-time location of the target.
In the case of low-flying targets, the mobile Mass system
serves as the last line of defense. It can track cruise missiles and other
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and launch mid-range missiles to destroy the
targets.
The S-400 system can track up to 300 targets and engage around 60 to 80 targets simultaneously. It has the capacity to guide up to 160 missiles simultaneously, employing a battle regiment strategy that requires two missiles to hit a single target.
Ultimately, the S-400
system's capabilities and operational intricacies underscore its significance
in modern military defense, while acknowledging its limitations is crucial for
a comprehensive understanding.