Russia's Advanced S-400 Systems Could 'Neutralize NATO Airpower'

The S-400 is a major reason for the North Atlantic Alliance to think twice before escalating tensions with Russia, according to the US media.

Russia plans to boost air defense along its Western border by deploying a number of modern S-400 Triumf and Pantsir-S air defense systems as part of the country's large-scale program to modernize its military by 2020 and apparently in response to NATO's ongoing saber-rattling.

The S-400 "deployment in greater numbers along Russia's borders with NATO could challenge the latter's ability to achieve air dominance in the event of a conflict with Moscow," Zachary Keck said in an article titled "Watch Out, America: Russia Sends Super Advanced S-400 to NATO's Borders."

The S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) is this good indeed.

Russia's next-generation anti-aircraft weapon system can engage all types of aerial targets including aircraft, drones and ballistic and cruise missiles within the range of 250 miles at an altitude of nearly 19 miles.

The S-400 is equipped with three different types of missiles and is fitted with a radar that is capable of tracking up to 300 targets within the range of over 370 miles.

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© Sputnik / Ruslan Krivobok

Preparing to fire an S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile at the Ashuluk proving grounds during an Aerospace Defence Forces tactical drill

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© AFP 2023 / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

Russia's soldiers stand guard near Russia's air defence system S-400 Triumf launch vehicles at the military exhibition "Oboronexpo-2014" in Zhukovsky outside Moscow, on August 13, 2014.

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An S-400 surface-to-air missile [SAM] system serving with the Guards Order of the Red Banner Aerospace Defense Missile Regiment.

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© Sputnik / Ruslan Krivobok

Preparing to fire an S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile at the Ashuluk proving grounds during an Aerospace Defence Forces tactical drill

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© AFP 2023 / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

Russia's soldiers stand guard near Russia's air defence system S-400 Triumf launch vehicles at the military exhibition "Oboronexpo-2014" in Zhukovsky outside Moscow, on August 13, 2014.

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© Sputnik / Valeriy Melnikov

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An S-400 surface-to-air missile [SAM] system serving with the Guards Order of the Red Banner Aerospace Defense Missile Regiment.

The brand new air defense system hence challenges the entire Western way of war, which "depends on the achievement of air supremacy," according to Robert Farley.

"At least in the early days of the war, the S-400 and its associated systems could neutralize NATO airpower, undermining one of the central pillars of the Western way of war," he wrote in a piece for the National Interest, adding that "NATO forces have not fought against a modern, capable air defense system in a very long time."

Russian S-400 Triumf Air Defense System

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