NEW DELHI – India’s decision to augment its air defence with the RussianS-400 Triumf missile system (NATO code: SA-21 Growler) can change theentire military dynamics of the subcontinent. The S-400 Triumf air defencemissile, which has been in service with the Russian forces since 2007, isconsidered to be the best in the world and is much more advanced than anywestern system. Once deployed on the borders with Pakistan, the IndianForces would have great capability to strike target from Pakistanside before they pose any threat to our country. The missiles deployed withthe S-400 Triumf are capable of travelling at a rate of 4.8 kilometres persecond (17,000 km/h; Mach 14) and has maximum range of 400 kilometres.
The S-400 Triumf missile system, which can engage targets independently aswell as after receiving data from others radars, is the fourth generationof long-range Russian Surface-to-Air-Missiles (SAMs). The highly mobile,ground-based S-400 Triumf can detect, track and shoot down multiple targetsincluding cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, aircraft, drones, unmannedaerial vehicles (UAVs). It can target ballistic missiles in their terminal(descent or reentry) phase. The entire system consists of a multifunctionradar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missilesystems, launchers, command and control centre.
The system can fire the following missiles – 48N6DM/48N6E3 (range 250km),40N6 (range 400km, maximum altitude 185 km), 9M96E (range 40 km,maximum altitude 20 km) and 9M96E2 (range 120km, maximum altitude 30 km).At present, the S-400 Triumf system employs missiles which use a143-kilogramme high-explosive fragmentation to kill the incoming aerialthreat. But another missile 77N6 is under development which will have thehit-to-kill capability like the US Patriot air defence system. While thecurrent system can destroy missiles as well as aircraft and drones, the77N6 will be specifically deployed to target the ballistic missile threat.
The operational range of the S-400 Triumf is up to 400 kilometres, but itcan detect targets which are 600 km away. The system is capable ofdetecting and tracking 300 targets and engaging 36 aircraft/UAVs/drones and72 missiles simultaneously. It can take down aircraft/UAVs/drones at arange of 2-400 km. The system can shoot an incoming missile at a range of5-60 km and at an altitude of 2-27 km.
Capable of operating effectively in a temperature range of -50 degreeCelcius to +50 degree Celcius, the S-400 Triumf self-propelled system cantravel at a rate of 60km per hour on metalled roads. Its speedon unmetalled road is 40 km/h and across the country it is 25 km/h. Thesystem can fire a missile in just five minutes after it is deployed.
Russia and India are likely to announce the deal before an annual summitbetween Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putinin October 2018.