S-400the long range SAM

[jha]

S-400the long range SAM

S-400 Part I

The Fakel Design Bureau has developed a new missile, capable of engaging any attack means, which will take the Russian air defense system to a qualitatively new level, Fakel Designer General Vladimir Svetlov said.

"Several of our missiles, being tested, will considerably boost combat capabilities of famous Russian air defense missile systems. The design bureau has also developed a missile for the new air defense missile system. We believe that it will become the leader among air defense missiles. Its capabilities and even designation are classified. I believe that the missile will remain the leader for decades to come. The missile will be capable of killing any attack means," Svetlov said in an interview with the Nedelya supplement to the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper.

Commenting on the question whether the new missile would be able to intercept the U.S. X-51 new-generation hypersonic missile, Svetlov said: "Personally, I doubt if the U.S. will be able to deliver on the characteristics specified. But even if it is, and if the X-51 is developed, the new Russian missile will have no problem in intercepting it."

According to him, at the moment there are no aircraft, capable of evading Russian missiles, in the world.

Commenting on some specifications of the new missile, designated 9M96, Svetlov said that it had a weight of only 340 kg. The missile is based on cutting-edge technologies, employed by both the European and the U.S. air defense missile manufacturers. Among other things, the missile boasts a gas-dynamic guidance at the final stage of its flight. "As a result, the missile features a precise guidance right until a direct hit on the target. With this end in view, we fitted the missile with an engine, enabling it to carry out non-standard maneuvers. The design bureau holds the patent for the missile, which boasts a great many other unique capabilities," Svetlov said.

He noted that the Fakel Design Bureau manufactured products, designed to defend Russia rather than attack anybody. "Those are pure defensive weapons," Svetlov stressed.

 

[Donatello]

I would hate to break the Russian ego here, but aren't these SAM systems more hyped up? I mean they have never been tested in an air combat and unlike the original S-100 (SA75) which shot down many aircraft, one cannot expect much from them yet? Or is there a way to test these against NATO aircraft like f-16, f-15 and moreover the f-22.