@zebra7
Now S-400 can be used against Iskander or Yokont at low altitude, can you provide the source of your claim.
There is no proof in public domain.
The Triumph's leading developer is the Almaz Central Design Bureau. According to Alexander Lemansky, General Designer of the Bureau, state that definition of the S-400 design was performed jointly by the designers and the Russian MoD, with specific capability foci in:
- Defeating threats at low and very low flight altitudes;
- Dealing with the overall reduction of target signatures resulting from the pervasive use of stealth technology;
- Dealing with the increase in target quantities resulting from the widspread use of UAVs;
- Applying all means to defeat advanced jammers employed by opponents;
- Surviving in an environment where PGMs are used widely;
- Accommodating an environment where an increasing number of nations are deploying TBMs and IRBMs.
Theoretically a basic requirement to pre testing and testing the system was tested against Iskander (480 km ranged one) and Yakhont too. After Russia's issue with INF treaty, the later variants were produced for Iskander. There was a urgent talks few years back that Russia may sell Iskander to Saudi Arabia and also has supplied to Syria. With both these places, the Russian generals were clear that they do not rule out a possibility of Iskander falling into Nato hands and USA using it to get a similar QBM which gives a much needed boost to Nato forces in Europe and takes pin point strike role in SAM sites. This was when the S400 series production and missile newer type development plan increased (including new type Kill vehicle).
The issue with a QBM moving at high speed is that radar detection and a complex algorithm to prdict the point of impact after few seconds need high degree of computation and on top iskander does do almost 30g maneuvers. The test which proved S400 can do intercept needed not one but rather 4 launches of different SAMs per iskander missile. Again if interception is a success, the question of efficiency does arise and thus the new 77N6 N/N1 with more than 7km/sec speed. Practically if you see, USA and Russia wont fire ICBMs to each other and get MAD done. Its more of using Europe where IRBMs and QBMs may be supplied and which act as a deterrent in a complex chess game. Again these are collected from Russian sites, and various blogs//forums. By the way Prometheus in reality is against intercepting hypersonic targets.. ICBM just happens to fall into the speed realm of interception.
For this point no.
1. Extended range NASR for conventional attack, S-400 is very costly, and with depressed tragectory, low cost nasr, it would be difficult to replenish all S-400 missile, before strong and real attack is been made. Use of UAV in large number with emmiter to mimic and fool as a ariel threat.
Sir, why would India keep the S400 withhin Nasr existing range or extended range. Even if the say S-400 system with just 1 TEL within 100 kms of the border and rest outside it, the radar coverage gives me a radius of 600 km inward detection. The engagement radius is 400 kms whether thats within Indian airspace or Pakistan comes next. On top how will you know where is my Missile TELs and where are my Radars and where are my command center and where are my pantisir units protecting it. All of that can be spread over 100 kms distance from each other implying the system acan very well be within India outside the range of conventional missiles which can do area destruction. The circlement via various TELs can instead make the whole strike package via missile much much tougher.
Secondly, a lower trajectory or even depressed trajectory detection cannot be ruled out and thus automatci popping of S400 system SAM mode. Nor about the other protective SAMs from other indian SAM systems.
The worst nightmare as termed by Gadeshi in another forum is S400 as a true tic toc tic system for 15 mins work. A TEL parks for few mins, unpack, erects the SAMs, fires, repacks and moves over.. Thus the TELs itself are continuously moving. I am not even considering the reloading part as that makes the system even more functionally survivable.
Yes only way Nasr can take out is having very very credible and precise information of either the TELs within range or disrupting the whole communication system (which is extrmely impossible due to various Electronic countermeasures)
BTW S400 has way more radar systems then missile types in order to ensure if one fails other works indepndently. On top as i posted earlier command centers is the key. Even if you take out one command center, the other command center can take over in a short time (max 10 mins) in a interlinked zone thereby handing over the command to a new center and working functionally again. (some mad scientists lol)
2. Purchase Powerful Landbased ECM Radar to make S-400 Radars signal weak, to give the defendor small window of time to respond.
Great choice. A question how big that small window is? Second in case of overlapping SAM sites, how a radar jamming say one site gives enough window for movement of aerial assets or any other medium to neutralise the intended targets.A higher powerful land based ECM radar also means it becomes target of enemy action too. Its value becomes strategic in nature afterall. Also such a radar wont be low cost surely.thus it wont fit into the solution at low cost mode.
3. For distruction, buy dedicated ground attack fighter plane, which have wide area of SAR mapping and could fly at very low altitude e.g Like Rafale or Su-34 and attack through various weapons like long range GPS aided Glide Bomb from safer zones.
PAF does not have a doctrine of DPSA and that also twin engined. For such a big strategic change, the def budget needs revision, the infratsructure needs changing and a capable bird needs to be identified and procured. again Rafales and Su34 wont come to PAF (no offense indian money will kepp France and Russia sealed away). So option is chinese twin engined bird. Now whether its a naval requirement for longer legs mission or PAF strategic requirement for DPSA that needs to be ascertained. Again, the indian airspace will have a mix of air superiority birds to point defence birds to SAM systems.. Thus they require a substantial squadron numbers for such a role (minimum of 4) and also to protect from overlapping SAM zones. This is cost intensive solution as doctrine of PAF/PN needs a greater modification in all aspects. Moreover its a resource an dtime consuming solution. The whole of this from start to full deployment will take minimum of 5-6+ years if finances are available now or else a bit longer timeline. The biggest thing is you dont go to war with spanking new jets you got yesterday. You traina dn eveolve strategies with them and take time. If you add that, the whole timeline goes to 10+ years easily.
4. Jammers and countermeasures for jamming the active radar of the SAM.and the link signal of the sam and the firecontrol radar of S400.
Trial and error methodology. S400 is not exported bcz of trying to protect that small part of information. The capability of jamming will require new generation jammers which needs feedback from S400 users - Russia, China and India types. The radar countermeasures is more futile as i said earlier each system has far too many radars and on top overlapping arcs makes this extremely difficult. Unless you have special Ops team insertion in multiple points and taking down at the same time.
If Deployed as ABM
1. Over whelm
Saturation attack fails almost any system. the question is how many missiles you will fire at one go.. from one zone or multizone. Not practically possible as almost all missiles are spread and not fired from single point. Again if the result is saturation, the number of missile produced is a cost centric and time centric function. moreover multizine fires will light up multizone detection radars too. Thus efficacy of an unsuccessful interception implies a massive saturation point at one or more points. Then what next? The aerial assets would be deployed in full time patrolling by IAF. and if command vehicles have surived the rest TELs will be again re synergised. So whats the then next step or efficacy of a saturation attack.
2. Stealth and low altitude cruise missiles
One of the best low altitude missile is tomahawk and pak does have a subsonic terrain hugging missile. As explained initially, this angle was taken care .. infact in the previous version in S300 this was added. i can now quote a public clipping
Russian S-400 Missile Can Hit Radar, AWACS Aircraft
ITAR-TASS World Service 5 May 99
By Anatoliy Yurkin
MOSCOW, May 5 (Itar-Tass) - The new Russian air defence S-400 Triumf system is capable of hitting radar reconnaissance and AWACS planes, which raises considerably its competitiveness on the world arms market, says the article "Triumf is put on alert", published in the May issue of the Voenny Parad journal which is now being put on sale and is distributed among subscribers. The S-400 is designed to hit modern and future attack aircraft at a distance of 400 km: tactical and strategic aviation jets, cruises of theTomahawk type and other missiles", the article notes. Triumf successfully fights air targets, manufactured with the use of "stealth" technology at all altitudes of their combat operation and at maximum distances. When creating this system, Russian specialists used latest technologies in the radar industry, microelement base and computer engineering. In the opinion of general designer Vladimir Svetlov, Triumf is the world's first system which can selectively work with the use of several types of missiles. "The long-range missile has no analogues. It eclipses the American Patriot-3 system by around 100 percent, as does the French Aster, he claimed.
Russian S-400 Missile Can Hit Radar, AWACS Aircraft
3. Hypersonic high altitude missile -- Purchase DF-21C
Thats a possibility. Hypersonic yes untill the new 77N6N/N1 are not deployed. But i am sure india will try and get it as a package (hope so) if no then its a lacunae to exploit. IF we get it then the possibility of interception will remian in higher numbers if more than 1 missile is fired to intercept. A good question on what pretext Pakistan will get a MRBM IRBM from China of 1800km range? Cost, international politics etc?
4. Submarine launched cruise and bm
SLBM SLCM is good if as earlier explained the surface/submersible assets gets a weak point to fire into. But before that how will they walk pass the IN web of ships.. and SLCMs of what range speed subsonic/supersonic configuration. SLBM is much longer timeline for PN then SLCM
Unfortunately developing any missile is cost intensive, human resources intensive and time intensive. The overnight solution wont be there. the solution will take time and will need strategic rethinking at all fronts including economy which will need to support such new dynamic initiatives for national security. DPSA twin engined jets, new missiles, research etc will require lots of funding. That needs a whole new approach from Government and need a bigger booster dose in economy.