Russia has started fresh training exercises of its potent air defense system S-400, a sign of further muscle flexing, according to news reports.
“The S-400 training exercises have started in Russia. The servicemen of the S-400 “Triumf” anti-aircraft missile systems have started practicing combat training tasks to detect and destroy a simulated enemy within the framework of the exercises in the Novosibirsk region ,” news agency NEXTA tweeted.
S-400 training exercises have started in #Russia.
The servicemen of the S-400 “Triumf” anti-aircraft missile systems have started practicing combat training tasks to detect and destroy a simulated enemy within the framework of the exercises in the #Novosibirsk region. pic.twitter.com/Xqdxdvqxp0
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 3, 2022
Novosibirsk, in southern Russia’s Siberian region, is over 4,000 km away from Ukraine where the war is underway.
The exercises are being seen as Russia’s strong messaging and aggressive posturing before the NATO countries that have extended their support to Ukraine but are yet to send in their forces against Russia.
So Read: | Why the IAF wants the S-400 missile | India Today Insight
What is the S-400?
The S-400 is a mobile, long-range surface-to-air missile system considered to be one of the most lethal in the world. It can take down multiple targets up to a range of 400 km – with it fighter jets, bombers, cruise and ballistic missiles or even unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The missile system, with its long-range surveillance radars, can detect all aerial threats and can provide an air-defence shield over large cities.
So Read: | How Does the S-400 Triumph Fight? An India Today Interactive
With four different kinds of missiles, its capabilities transcend visual range. It can engage multiple targets, which include tracking 160 objects in a 600 km range and hitting 72 targets up to 400 km. They also have varied abilities – effective in short range 40 km, medium range 120 km, long range 180 km and very long range 400 km. Russia has been using it since 2007.
In the run up to the war, Russia had conducted several exercises, even in Crimea, which it had annexed in 2014.
upgraded version
The S-400 missile system is an upgraded version of the S-300 and S-200 Triumph. Russia wanted to induct 56 of these by 2020. Russia has provided this potent weapon system to China and Turkey, among other countries.
The next version, S-500, will be able to target ballistic missiles 600 km away.
Delivery to India
India has also purchased the S-400 system from Russia despite threats of US sanctions. The delivery of the first unit has already been made and the system has been deployed along the western front in the Punjab sector.
So Read: | US senators urge Biden to waive sanctions against India over Russian S-400 deal
Four more units are yet to be delivered, with one unit expected every six months. Russia has made it clear that the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Moscow will not impact the deliveries to India.
“Don’t foresee any obstacles as far as the S-400 supply to India is concerned. We have unobstructed routes to continue with this deal,” Denis Alipov, Russia’s Ambassador-Designate to India, said.
So Read: | US defense secretary urges India to avoid buying Russian equipment
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