The S-400 Triumf, Russia’s heralded air defense system, has been a centerpiece of military discussions, given its alleged capabilities to target and neutralize stealth technology, including the United States’ advanced F-35 and F-22 fighter jets.

According to recent reports, Ukraine’s strategic use of long-range ATACMS provided by Washington has inflicted blows on the formidable system, with a missile strike reportedly hitting four S-400 systems among other assets.

The S-400’s design originated from the S-300, with both systems sharing roughly 70-80% of the same technology.

It boasts an impressive range of up to 250 km and can fire advanced missiles, including the 48N6 series and the 9M96E2, reaching targets at Mach 15 and a maximum altitude of 35,000 meters.

This air defense behemoth, operational since 2007, has been exported to nations such as India, but its notoriety has not made it invincible.

Ukrainian forces, leveraging long-range systems, demonstrated that even the vaunted S-400 could be destroyed, a significant blow to a weapon that Russia often claims is unbeatable.

Experts have long been intrigued by the S-400’s radar systems, which are said to combine three different arrays broadcasting on various frequency bands.

These systems are adept at detecting stealth fighters, designed to evade detection from higher-frequency radars.

Lower frequency radars, such as those employed by the S-400, can spot these aircraft.

However, the presence of an S-400 system in proximity to F-35s poses a strategic conundrum. Kathryn Wheelbarger, then-US acting assistant secretary of defense, openly acknowledged the S-400’s design to neutralize aircraft like the F-35.

Gen. Tod Wolters, leading the US European Command, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the incompatibility between the two systems.

The critical question remains: Can the S-400 truly target stealth fighters? Despite technological overlaps with its predecessor, the S-300, the S-400’s radar and software enhancements give it a unique edge.

At its core, the Nebo-M radar system, with distinct arrays operating on different frequency bands, positions the S-400 as a counter-stealth titan.

In a theoretical encounter, could the F-35 outmatch the S-400? Considering that the S-400 may only target an F-35 within a 20-mile range, the advanced fighter equipped with long-range missiles could strike from a distance beyond the S-400’s detection, potentially without risk. However, this simplifies the complex nature of integrated air defense systems (IADS), which could provide a formidable network for the S-400.

Defense analysts, like Patricia Marins, stress that “when comparing the F-35 with Russian air defenses like the S-300 and S-400, the Turks are the only ones who have tested and know the results. According to Turkish reports, the S-400 was able to detect the F-16, F-35, and even the F-22. No one except the Turks can confirm this.”

Relevant articles:
– S-400: The Air Defense System That Could Track F-22 and F-35 Fighters, The National Interest
– US Media Acknowledges S-400’s Might! Says Russian AD System Can Track Stealth Fighters Like F-35, EurAsian Times
– THE S-400 MYTH: WHY RUSSIA’S AIR DEFENSE PROWESS IS EXAGGERATED, Sandboxx