Russian S-400 air defense system gets ground attack upgrade.

According to a video released by Russian national television on October 2, 2023, Russia is in the process of developing a specialized ground-attack missile for its S-400 anti-aircraft system. Dmitry Medvedev, the Secretary of the Russian Federation Council, confirmed this development. The new missile should be an upgraded version of the existing 48N6 anti-aircraft missile, and it is engineered to offer enhanced range, increased accuracy, and a more substantial warhead. This advancement could significantly shift the strategic landscape, considering the already formidable capabilities of the S-400 system.
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The new missile underwent testing at the Kapustin Yar training ground, as revealed in videos shared by Russian authorities (Picture source: Russian MoD)

The S-400 system mainly uses the 48N6 series of missiles, which can hit aerial targets at ranges of up to 150 km and intercept ballistic missiles at a radius of 60 km using a 143 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead. The new missile is an obvious modernization of the 48N6, which is already being considered for ground attack roles. The new missile is said to have increased range, accuracy, and warhead, although specific details remain to be confirmed.

Given that the new missile is a modernization of the 48N6 missile, which has a range of 150 km and a warhead of 180 kg, significant improvements in these areas can be expected. This could mean an extended range well beyond 150 km and a warhead significantly heavier than 180 kg, which would significantly increase its destructive power.

The new missile underwent testing at the Kapustin Yar training ground, as revealed in videos shared by Russian authorities. The missile is radio-guided and has been described as "highly accurate" by Russian officials. However, it is still in the embryonic stage of its development.

The S-400 system is already a very versatile and powerful anti-aircraft system. Adding a ground attack capability would significantly expand its operational reach, making it a more flexible and strategic asset. This could have implications not only for Russia but also for countries that have acquired the S-400 system, including Turkey and India.

As a reminder, a standard battery of the S-400 air defense system is usually composed of several key elements, including a command post, a detection and tracking radar, as well as several missile launchers. Each launcher can be equipped with four to six missiles. The S-400 system is capable of firing different types of missiles to engage a variety of targets, ranging from aircraft to ballistic missiles. Among the most commonly used missiles are the 48N6, capable of hitting targets up to 150 km away, the 40N6 with a maximum range of 400 km, and the 9M96, which is a shorter missile with a range of 120 km. These missiles can be equipped with different warheads, including high-explosive fragmentation warheads, to maximize their effectiveness against various target types.

S-400 air defense system is usually composed of several key elements, including a command post, a detection and tracking radar, as well as several missile launchers. Here it is S-400 92N2 radar and 5P85T2 (Picture source: Wikimedia)