Ukrainian Special Forces destroy launcher of Russian S-400 most modern air defense missile system

According to pictures published on the Twitter account "Ukraine Weapons Tracker" on January 20, 2023, the Ukrainian Special Forces destroyed a Russian 5P85SM2 TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) vehicle of the S-400 SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile), the most modern air defense missile system in service with the Russian armed forces.
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As new photos have appeared on Social Networks, confirming that the Russian armed forces lost a component of the advanced S-400 air defense system, a 5P85SM2-01 TEL Transporter Erector Launcher vehicle with 5V55R missiles. (Picture source Twitter account Ukraine Weapons Tracker)

Citing information published on the Twitter of Ukraine Weapon Tracker, a 5P85SM2 TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) vehicle of an S-400 air defense missile system was destroyed near the Ilyine village, Chernihiv Region. It is the first confirmed loss of a Russian S-400 deployed in Ukraine for combat operations.

According to a military source report, the Russian armed forces have deployed S-400 launcher units in Belarus and Crimea to force Ukrainian aircraft to fly at an extremely low altitude, below 30, for most of their sorties on the northern and southern axes.

It seems that the Russian forces have also deployed its S-400 air defense system inside the territory of Ukraine.

The enduring threat from Russian long-range S-400 SAMs, especially when cued in by radars capable of tracking them at low altitudes from long ranges such as the 48Ya6 Podlet-K1, is likely to force Ukrainian fighters to operate at low levels as part of standard tactics.

The S-400 is a long-range surface-to-air missile defense system developed by Russia. It is designed to detect, track and destroy a wide range of aerial threats including aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, and can engage multiple targets simultaneously. The system has a range of up to 400 km and can reach an altitude of up to 30 km. It has been in use by the Russian military since 2007 and has also been sold to several other countries, including China and Turkey.

An S-400 battery includes several components including the 91N6E Big Bird, which is used for long-range detection and tracking of aerial targets, and the 92N6 Grave Stone, which is used for medium-range detection and tracking of aerial targets. The S-400 is also equipped with a command and control system that is used to coordinate the system's various components and manage the engagement of targets. A regular S-400 battalion reportedly consists of at least eight launchers with 32 missiles.

Overall the S-400 is considered as one of the most efficient air defense systems that have the ability to engage a wide range of targets at long ranges and high altitudes, and its network-centric architecture allows it to share data with other assets to provide a comprehensive picture of the battlefield.

Russian 5P85SM2 TEL Transporter Erector Launcher vehicle of S-400 air defense missile system. (Picture source Vitaly Kuzmin)

The 5P85S is the transport vehicle used to transport and launch the missiles of the S-400 air defense system. It is used to move the system from one location to another and can be quickly deployed to provide air defense coverage in different locations. The 5P85 consists of a launcher unit and a transport-loader vehicle, which are used to transport and launch the S-400's missiles. The launcher unit contains four missile tubes, which can be loaded with different types of missiles, including the long-range 40N6 and the short-range 9M96E2 missiles.

The 5P85SM2 is a variant of the 5P85 transport vehicle used for the S-400 air defense system. It is an upgraded version that has been developed to improve the system's mobility and missile reloading capabilities. It has been equipped with a more powerful engine and improved suspension, which allows it to traverse difficult terrain and keep up with the fast-moving battlefield.

The 5P85SM2 has been designed to reload missiles more quickly and efficiently, which allows the system to engage multiple targets in a shorter period of time. It has been equipped with advanced automation systems that reduce the need for manual intervention and improve the system's overall performance. The launcher vehicle can be configured with different types of missiles, which allows the system to engage a wider range of targets.