Il sistema di difesa aerea S-400 Triumf (C-400 Триумф, o SA-21 Growler), è stato di recente attivato per i primi test presso la base aerea turca di Murdet

Il sistema di difesa aerea S-400 proveniente dalla Russia è stato di recente attivato per i primi test presso la base aerea turca di Murdet.

Alla fine del 2017, il presidente della Turchia e i funzionari russi sottoscrissero un accordo da 2,5 miliardi di $ per la consegna di alcune unità del sistema di difesa aerea missilistico S-400. Il segretario di Stato americano espresse una risentita preoccupazione per l'accordo, ma il presidente Erdogan ed altri funzionari turchi respinsero al mittente la minaccia di sanzioni da parte degli Stati Uniti, citando i protocolli internazionali esistenti e concordati dalla Turchia e dalla Russia e che l'offerta degli S-400 era un accordo migliore rispetto al sistema MIM-104 Patriot offerto dagli Stati Uniti. La Turchia ha ricevuto la prima tranche del sistema di difesa missilistica russa S-400 il 12 luglio 2019. Gli Stati Uniti hanno minacciato la Turchia di sanzioni CAATSA e il 17 luglio hanno sospeso la Turchia dal programma F-35, affermando che "gli F-35 non possono coesistere con una piattaforma di raccolta di intelligence russa che sarà utilizzata per conoscere le sue capacità avanzate". A partire dal 2020, sono state consegnate alla Turchia altre 4 batterie composte da 36 unità di fuoco ed oltre 192 missili.

La legge annuale sulla politica di difesa, presentata recentemente, ha imposto al presidente degli Stati Uniti di sanzionare la Turchia per l' acquisizione del sistema di difesa missilistica aerea S-400: il disegno di legge della difesa ordina che cinque o più sanzioni ai sensi della CAATSA siano imposte entro 30 giorni.

Il compito ricade sull'amministrazione Trump a meno che il disegno di legge non venga firmato dopo la prossima settimana e quindi spetterebbe al presidente eletto Joe Biden dopo il 20 gennaio 2021.

La NATO conferma che gli S-400 rappresentano una concreta minaccia per l'alleanza militare e in particolare mettono in pericolo i segreti tecnici degli aerei F-35.

Il linguaggio, ricercato dai Democratici e dal presidente repubblicano della Commissione per le relazioni estere del Senato, il senatore Jim Risch , determinerebbe che l'acquisto da 2,5 miliardi di dollari dell'S-400 da parte della Turchia costituisce una "transazione significativa" che offre il fianco ad una serie di sanzioni contro qualsiasi nazione che acquista da una nazione ostile all’occidente, un importante armamento per la difesa.

Il presidente potrà revocare le sanzioni solo quando potrà certificare che la Turchia non utilizzerà più un sistema russo, e in particolare l’S-400.

Il disegno di legge include anche l'autorizzazione per le forze armate statunitensi ad utilizzare i sei aerei F-35 che erano stati accettati dalla Turchia prima che il paese fosse espulso dal programma F-35 per l'acquisto dell'S-400.

Il Congresso ha anche segretamente bloccato le vendite di armi statunitensi alla Turchia per quasi due anni. Quattro membri chiave del Congresso, individualmente o collettivamente, hanno silenziosamente congelato tutte le principali vendite di armi statunitensi alla Turchia per quasi due anni. Bob Menendez, DN.J., membro del ranking del Comitato per le relazioni estere del Senato, è stato tra i legislatori che ha salutato l'inclusione della lingua nel National Defense Authorization Act da $ 740,5 miliardi, 4.517 pagine o NDAA.

"Incredibilmente orgoglioso di aver contribuito a garantire l'inclusione nella NDAA di una disposizione per fare ciò che il presidente Trump si è rifiutato di fare: determinare ufficialmente per conto del governo degli Stati Uniti che la Turchia ha preso in consegna i sistemi di difesa S-400 russi e quindi viene sanzionata secondo la legge esistente", ha confermato Menendez. La disputa sugli S-400 è soltanto una di una serie di recenti aspri contrasti tra la Turchia e alcuni dei suoi “alleati" della NATO. Il presidente turco Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in ottobre, ha sfidato gli Stati Uniti a imporre sanzioni per il loro coinvolgimento nel conflitto del Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Siamo intervenuti per l'F-35, ci avete minacciati", ha detto Erdogan a un congresso televisivo del partito al governo nella città orientale di Malatya.” Hanno detto: "Rimanda gli S-400 in Russia. Non siamo uno stato tribale, siamo la Turchia."

Per mesi, gli Stati Uniti hanno avvertito Ankara che avrebbe rischiato sanzioni se il sistema S-400 fosse stato attivato. Trump, tuttavia, si è trattenuto dall'attuare le sanzioni immediate nella speranza che Erdogan non procedesse con l'attivazione dei missili russi. Il disegno di legge è il prodotto di settimane di negoziati  tra la Camera ed il Senato.

L'S-400 Triumf (in cirillico С-400 Триумф, nome in codice NATO SA-21 Growler), in precedenza identificato come S-300-PMU-3, è un sistema d'arma antiaereo di nuova generazione progettato per neutralizzare velivoli, AWACS, missili da crociera e missili balistici a medio-raggio inclusi nel trattato INF (1987-2019). Sviluppato da Almaz Central Design Bureau ed esportato da Rosoboronexport, l'S-400 Triumf è la naturale evoluzione dei sistemi di origine sovietica appartenenti alla serie S-300 che è destinato a sostituire. Secondo il produttore, può ingaggiare fino a 36 bersagli simultaneamente posti a 400 km di distanza e fino 30 km di altitudine, offrendo una copertura dello spazio aereo a 360 gradi.

Al 2020, la versione S-400E (versione per l'export) ha riscosso un notevole successo commerciale: le forze armate di Bielorussia, Cina, India, Turchia ed Arabia Saudita hanno siglato formalmente l'acquisto del sistema.

A causa delle prestazioni, almeno sulla carta, nettamente superiori a qualsiasi altro sistema antiaereo oggi in commercio nonché del vantaggio militare che esso può offrire una volta schierato, l'S-400 è apertamente osteggiato dagli Stati Uniti ed è oggetto di intensa disputa internazionale: Cina, India e Turchia sono state infatti sanzionate e/o estromesse da programmi militari sviluppati congiuntamente con l'industria statunitense per aver acquisito il sistema d'arma ai sensi del CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) introdotto nel 2017. Nello specifico caso della Turchia, il Congresso statunitense si è perfino detto disposto a rilevare gli S-400 acquistati da Ankara e reintegrarla nel programma F-35.

L'S-400 è destinato a diventare la spina dorsale della difesa antiaerea della Federazione Russa nella quale ha preso servizio a partire dal 2007.

Descrizione

L'S-400 è stato progettato come sistema d'arma capace di intercettare e colpire aerei da guerra e missili balistici e da crociera che volano a una velocità fino a 4,8 km/s (17.000 km/h). Il sistema può individuare fino a 36 obiettivi contemporaneamente (80 nelle nuove versioni) in un raggio che va da 30 a 400 km in base al tipo di missile utilizzato (quest'ultima distanza viene raggiunta con il missile 40N6 con compiti ABM e anti AWACS).

Nella sua versione per l'esercito russo (almeno fino al 2010), il sistema è costituito dal posto di comando 55K6E e dal radar 91N6E di acquisizione, gestiti con il sistema di gestione del combattimento 30K6E. Il posto di comando è affiancato, in genere, da 6 complessi 98Zh6E, ognuno dei quali comprendente un radar 92N6E di ingaggio e un numero variabile di TEL 5P85SE2/5P85TE2, armati con 4 missili 48N6E2/E3; a complemento di tutto ciò, vi è un sistema di supporto logistico 30Ts6E comprendente lo stivaggio dei missili ed equipaggiamenti di manutenzione.

Nel 2018 l'Esercito popolare cinese ha comunicato, nel corso di un'esercitazione, di aver abbattuto con successo un bersaglio in volo supersonico a 250 km di distanza.

Caratteristiche del missile 48N6E3

• Raggio d'azione: 250 km.
• Velocità del missile: 4800 m/s.

Caratteristiche del missile 9M96E

• Raggio d'azione: 40 km.
• Velocità del missile: 750 m/s.

Utilizzatori attuali:

Algeria

Ordini sconosciuti. Probabile contratto firmato nel 2013. Consegne nel 2015.

Bielorussia

2 battaglioni S-400 ordinati nel 2007. Tutti risultano consegnati al giugno 2016.

Cina

2 reggimenti ordinati nel novembre 2014 per un valore di 3 miliardi di dollari. Tutti gli elementi sono stati consegnati a dicembre 2019.

Russia

57 battaglioni di S-400 in servizio al settembre 2019. Ulteriori 2 battaglioni consegnati da gennaio ad agosto 2020.

Turchia

1 reggimento S-400 ordinato, consegne avviate il 12 luglio 2019. Al 2020, 4 batterie di S-400 sono state consegnate e sono in corso negoziazioni per l'acquisizione di 1 ulteriore reggimento di S-400. Il 24 agosto 2020 la Turchia raggiunge un accordo per l'acquisto di un secondo reggimento di S-400.

Futuri

Arabia Saudita

Nell'ottobre 2017, in occasione di una sua visita di stato in Russia, re Salman dell'Arabia Saudita ha raggiunto con Vladimir Putin un accordo per la fornitura del sistema d'arma.

India

5 reggimenti ordinati nel corso di una visita ufficiale a Nuova Dehli del Presidente della Federazione Russa Vladimir Putin al Primo Ministro indiano Narendra Modi. La commessa, pari a 5,43 miliardi di dollari, sarà evasa a partire dal 2021.

Potenziali

Iraq

Baghdad si è detta interessata all'acquisto dell'S-400.

Qatar

Il Qatar sta valutando le capacità del sistema.

ENGLISH

The S-400 air defence system from Russia was recently activated for initial testing at Turkey's Murdet air base.

The recently introduced annual defence policy bill required the US President to sanction Turkey for the acquisition of the S-400 air missile defence system: the defence bill orders that five or more sanctions under CAATSA be imposed within 30 days.

The task falls to the Trump administration unless the bill is signed after next week and then it would fall to President-elect Joe Biden after 20 January 2021.

NATO confirms that the S-400s pose a real threat to the military alliance and in particular endanger the technical secrets of the F-35 aircraft.

The language, sought by Democrats and the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch, would determine that Turkey's $2.5 billion purchase of the S-400 constitutes a "significant transaction" that offers the door to a series of sanctions against any nation that purchases a major defence weapon from a nation hostile to the West.

The president will only be able to lift the sanctions when he can certify that Turkey will no longer use a Russian system, and in particular the S-400.

The bill also includes permission for the US military to use the six F-35 aircraft that had been accepted by Turkey before the country was expelled from the F-35 programme for the purchase of the S-400.

Congress also secretly blocked US arms sales to Turkey for almost two years.

Four key members of Congress, individually or collectively, have quietly frozen all major US arms sales to Turkey for nearly two years.

Bob Menendez, DN.J., ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was among the lawmakers who hailed the inclusion of the language in the $740.5 billion, 4,517-page National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA.

"Incredibly proud to have helped secure the inclusion in the NDAA of a provision to do what President Trump has refused to do: officially determine on behalf of the United States government that Turkey has taken delivery of Russian S-400 defense systems and is therefore sanctioned under existing law," Menendez confirmed.

The S-400 dispute is just one in a series of recent bitter disagreements between Turkey and some of its NATO "allies".

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in October, challenged the US to impose sanctions for its involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"We intervened for the F-35, you threatened us," Erdogan told a televised conference of the ruling party in the eastern city of Malatya." They said, "Send the S-400s back to Russia. We are not a tribal state, we are Turkey."

For months, the US has warned Ankara that it would risk sanctions if the S-400 system was activated. Trump, however, refrained from implementing immediate sanctions in the hope that Erdogan would not proceed with activating the Russian missiles. The bill is the product of weeks of negotiations between the House and Senate.

The S-400 Triumf (Russian: C-400 Триумф, Triumf, Translation: Triumph; NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler), previously known as the S-300PMU-3, is an anti-aircraft weapon system developed in the 1990s by Russia's Almaz Central Design Bureau as an upgrade of the S-300 family. It has been in service with the Russian Armed Forces since 2007.

In 2017, the S-400 was described by The Economist as "one of the best air-defence systems currently made", and Siemon Wezeman of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said it "is among the most advanced air defense systems available." China was the first foreign buyer to make a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014, while Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Belarus have all acquired the system since.

Development

The development of the S-400 system began in the late 1980s, and the Russian Air Force announced the system in January 1993. On 12 February 1999, successful tests were reported at Kapustin Yar in Astrakhan, and the S-400 was scheduled for deployment by the Russian army in 2001. Dr Alexander Lemanskiy of Almaz-Antey was the Chief Engineer on the S-400 project.

In 2003, it became apparent that the system was not ready for deployment. In August, two high-ranking military officials expressed concern that the S-400 was being tested with "obsolete" interceptors from the S-300P system and concluded that it was not ready for deployment. The completion of the project was announced in February 2004, and in April, a ballistic missile was successfully intercepted in a test of the upgraded 48N6DM missile. In 2007, the system was approved for service. Russia has accepted for service the 40N6 long-range missile for the S-400 air-defence system, a source in the domestic defense industry told TASS news agency in October 2018.

The S-400 Triumf and Pantsir missile system can be integrated into a two-layer defense system.

Structure

S-400 missile systems are organized around the 30K6E administration system, which can coordinate eight divisions (battalions). The 55K6E is a command and control center based on the Ural-532301. The 91N6E is a panoramic radar detection system with a 600-kilometre (370 mi) range and protection against jamming, and is mounted on an MZKT-7930. The S-band system can track 300 targets. Six battalions of 98ZH6E surface-to-air missile systems (an independent combat system) can track no more than six targets on their own, with an additional two battalions if they are within a 40-kilometre (25 mi) range. The 92N6E (or 92N2E) is a multi-functional radar with a 400-kilometre (250 mi) range, which can track 100 targets. The 5P85TE2 launcher and the 5P85SE2 on a trailer (up to 12 launchers) are used for launch. The 48N6E, 48N6E2, 48N6E3, 48N6DM, 9M96E, 9M96E2, and the ultra-long-range 40N6E missiles have been authorised by a Russian presidential decree. According to the Russian government, the S-400 utilizes an active electronically scanned array.

Optional elements of the S-400 (98ZH6E) include the 15I6ME–98ZH6E, which extends coverage 30, 60 and 90 km (19, 38 and 57 mi) from that provided by the 30K6E. The 96L6E has a 300-kilometre (190 mi) detection range. The 40B6M is housing for the 92N6E or 96L6E radar. The Protivnik-GE is an anti-stealth UHF radar with a 400-kilometre (250 mi) range. The Moscow-1 passive sensor is 21⁄2 times more effective than the Protivnik, with a 400-kilometre (250 mi) range Orion for a target-designation on-the-air defense system, and the Avtobaza-M and Orion+ Avtobaza add high-precision detection. The 1RL220BE versions were reportedly used for jamming. The 400-kilometre (250 mi)-range S-200D Dubna (SA-5c) missiles and S-300 P-family radar systems can be used without additional command-and-control centers. S-300 (SA-20A, SA-20B) missiles may also be guided. A-50 and A-50U aircraft provide early warning and command-and-control target designation.

The 30К6Е control system can be integrated with the S-400 Triumf 98ZH6E system; the S-300PMU2 (through the 83М6Е2 control system); the S-300PMU1 (through the 83М6Е control system); the Tor-M1 through the Ranzhir-M battery-command post; the Pantsir-S1 through the lead battery vehicle. The Protivnik-GE and Gamma-DE radars, integrated with the 92H6E radar system, enables communication between each battery with Baikal-E senior command posts and similar types; nearby 30К6Е, 83М6Е and 83М6Е2 administration systems; the Polyana-D4М1 command post; fighter-aircraft command post, and mobile long-range radars. The system's VHF component provides sector search-and-tracking, with the X- and L-band components providing fine-tracking capability. Good placement of the radars relative to the threat axis enables the L- and X-band components to illuminate the incoming target from angles where the target radar cross-section (RCS) is sub-optimal. The RLM-S and RLM-D have better elevation-tracking accuracy than the RLM-M, and the Nebo M should be capable of producing high-quality tracks suitable for mid-course guidance of modern surface-to-air missiles and trajectory guidance of legacy SAMs.

The Gamma-C1E SHF mobile radar station has a 300-kilometre (190 mi) detection range. The Nebo VHF mobile radar station and the Resonance-NE radar station have a detection range of 1,200 kilometres (750 mi), and 65 kilometres (40 mi) to a height of 500 metres (1,600 ft). All Nebo-family locators are doubled for army air defense. During the 1970s, the long-range mobile UHF 5H87, and SHF 5H69 low-altitude locators were used. A goal of the 1980s was detection at a height of 10 metres (33 ft) at a distance of 40 km (25 mi). The Elbrus-90 computer is used to control the system.

For export to foreign customers, for integrating existing customer air defense systems, additional work on improvement of the 30K6E administration system for information technology pairing with anti-kets is in progress.

Components

The 91N6E panoramic radar Has a declared anti-stealth targeting range of 150 km (93 mi) Maximum targeting ranges (detection ranges are wider) are:

• For a ballistic target (speed of 4800 m/s and a RCS of 0.4 square metres): 230 km
• For a target with RCS of 4 square metres: 390 km
• For targeting of strategic-bomber sized types: 570 km.

The 96L6 high-altitude detector (TSBS) radar and equipment operates independently of the 96L6E low-level radar detector. The 96L6E2 export version can track a maximum of 100 targets, and is resistant to false returns of clutter in mountainous terrain. It can perform the functions of a command post for battalions of S-300 (SA20/20A/20B) or S-400. 96L6-1 of S-400 and S-500. It serves as the command post for the battalions.

Command Center PBU 55K6E The maximum distance between the command center and the battalion of 98ZH6E with the use of re-transmitters is 100 km (62 mi).

Missiles are launched from 5P85TE2 self-propelled launchers or 5P85SE2 trailer launchers operating in conjunction with a BAZ-64022 or MAZ-543M tractor-trailer. A new type of transporter was introduced in 2014 to improve mobility while reducing fuel consumption. The cost of transporters in 2014 is 8.7 million rubles.

Missiles

One system comprising up to eight divizion (battalions) can control up to 72 launchers, with a maximum of 384 missiles (including missiles with a range of less than 250 km [160 mi]. A gas system launches missiles from the launch tubes up to 30 metres (98 ft) into the air before rocket motor ignition. In April 2015, a successful test firing of the missile was conducted at an airborne target at a range of 400 km (250 mi); transporter erector launchers (TELs) carrying the long-range 40N6 may only be able to hold two missiles instead of the typical four due to their large size. Another test recorded a 9M96 missile using an active radar homing head that reached a height of 56 km. All the missiles are equipped with directed explosion warhead, which increases the probability of complete destruction of targets. In 2016, Russian anti-aircraft missile troops received new guided missiles for S-300 and S-400 defense systems. The anti-aircraft missile system, designed to destroy aircraft, cruise, and ballistic missiles, can also be used against ground targets. The S-400 is able to intercept cruise missiles at a range of about 40 km due to their low-altitude flight paths.

Missile specifications

The Anti-ballistic missile (ABM) capabilities of the S-400 system are near the maximum allowed under the (now void) Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

The new anti-ballistic missiles 77N6-N and 77N6-N1 to enter service in 2014 supposedly add inert/kinetic anti-ballistic capability to the system. The same missiles will also be used by the S-500, which has a clearly stated anti-ICBM role.

Morpheus defence system

A separate independent air defense system 42S6 Morfey (Morpheus) is being developed. This system is designated as a short-range air defense system to protect the S-400 from various threats at their terminal phases, and will also act together with the S-350E as a supplement to the S-400. Together, these systems form part of the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces.

Development of Morfey started in 2007 and was planned to be introduced in 2013, but was delayed until at least 2015. The missile system consists of omnidirectional 29YA6 radar, infrared sensors, and 36 missiles. The missiles have up to 10 km range and an altitude of up to 3500 m.

Exterior target indication separate independent RLS "Niobium." Mobility 5 minutes. Frequency band S and UHF. Detection range of 600 km (RCS 1 square meter to 430 km), the target speed of 8000 km/h, 4791 miles, Mach 6.35. For detection, the owner of the state to transfer command of targeting items (in this application, the maximum speed grows from subordinates systems).

Statistics - Main characteristics of the S-400

Types of targets:

• Strategic bombers such as the B-1, B-2, FB-111, and B-52HElectronic warfare airplanes such as the EF-111A, and EA-6
• Reconnaissance airplanes such as the TR-1
• Early-warning radar airplanes such as the E-3A and E-2C
• Fighter airplanes such as the F-15, F-16, F-35, and F-22Strategic cruise missiles such as the TomahawkBallistic missiles (range up to 3,500 km)
• All-purpose maximum radial velocity is 4.8 kilometres per second (17,000 km/h; 11,000 mph; Mach 14); absolute limit 5 kilometres per second (18,000 km/h; 11,000 mph; Mach 15), the minimum is zero.
• System response time 9–10 seconds.
• The complex can move on roads at 60 km/h (37 mph) and off-road at speeds up to 25 km/h (16 mph).
• According to the Pravda state newspaper, the price of one battalion (about 7–8 launchers) is US$200 million.

Operating history

Russia

A regular S-400 battalion consists of at least eight launchers with 32 missiles and a mobile command post. On 21 May 2007, the Russian Air Force announced that S-400 would be put on combat duty around Moscow and Central Russia by 1 July 2007. The S-400 was also deployed near the town of Elektrostal.

On 6 August 2007, the first regiment equipped with S-400 entered active service in Moscow Oblast near Elektrostal, according to Channel One Russia. This was the 606th Guards Anti-air Rocket Regiment, 9th PVO Division, 1st PVO Corps, of the Special Purpose Command.

On 8 February 2008, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Sviridov announced that Russia would be replacing the S-300 systems in the Northwest of Russia with the S-400. Russian military experts expected that Russia plans for this system to be in place and represent a major component of their ballistic missile defense system until 2020.

In September 2006, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov announced a new state program of armaments for 2007–15. This program provides for the purchase of 18 missile battalions of S-400s.

On 17 March 2009, Russia's defense minister announced that a second regiment equipped with advanced S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems had been put into combat service.

On 26 August 2009, the General Staff said S-400 systems had been deployed in the Russian Far East to counter possible North Korean missile tests and prevent fragments from falling onto Russian territory.

In February 2011, a second unit of S-400 missile systems was deployed at Dubrovki, north of Moscow. The 210th Air Defense Regiment consists of two battalions, each consisting of eight launch points, each with four missiles. In February 2011, it was also announced that the missile system will be deployed in the southern Kuril Islands "to protect Russia's sovereignty in the Far East".

The Baltic Fleet in Kaliningrad received S-400 SAM systems which went into operational status in April 2012. One S-400 divizion is deployed on combat duty in the Russian far east city Nakhodka.

As of 2012, one system (in Electrostal) was operational, with three more S-400 battalions being deployed. All 56 battalions will be delivered by 2020. Russia is also setting up two regiments of S-400 in the Eastern Military district.

As of September 2013, the Russian Armed Forces had five S-400 regiments: two in Moscow, one in the Pacific fleet, one in the Baltic Fleet, and one in the Southern Military District. From 2014, the army was to receive two to three sets of regimental units of S-400 systems every year. Another S-400 regiment was to be put on combat duty around Moscow by the end of 2013. Russia plans to have 28 S-400 regiments by 2020, each comprising two or three battalions with four systems each, mainly in maritime and border areas.

In November 2015, it was announced that when the Kirov-class battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov will be recommissioned to the Russian Navy in 2018, it will be equipped with the 48N6DMK anti-aircraft missile derived from the land-based S-400. The inclusion of the 48N6DMK into the Kirov's arsenal extends its air defense range from 100 km (62 mi; 54 nmi) with the 48N6E2 missile from the S-300FM to 250 km (160 mi; 130 nmi). Northern Fleet Commander Adm. Vladimir Korolev commented in that same year that Russia's Northern Fleet's Coastal Forces had deployed S-400s.

On 1 March 2016, the acting commander of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army, major general Vladimir Korytkov, said that six S-400 units had been activated according to his order in the anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Novosibirsk air defense formation in Russia's Novosibirsk Oblast. TASS also reported that as of the end of 2015, a total of eleven Russian missile regiments were armed with S-400, and by the end of 2016 their number was expected to increase to sixteen.

2015 Russian military intervention in Syria

In November 2015, it was reported S-400 will be deployed to Syria, along with the contingent of Russian troops and other military hardware in the course of the air campaign conducted by the Russian forces on the side of the Syrian government. However, those claims were refuted by Russia. On 25 November 2015, the Russian government announced it would deploy S-400s in Syria as a response to the downing of its Su-24M jet by Turkey. On 26 November 2015, deployment of S-400 air defense systems to Syria was underway. The first S-400 unit was activated at the Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia Governorate.

In April and July 2017, a second S-400 unit was activated 13 km northwest of Masyaf, Hama Governorate.

Belarus

On 24 August 2007, Belarus submitted a formal request for supply of two S-400 battalions. In 2011, State Secretary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus Pavel Borodin has stated that Russia will supply the S-400 air defense system to Belarus. In June 2016, Belarus received two S-400 units free of charge from Russia.

China

In March 2014, it was announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had given authorization to sell the S-400 system to China. On 13 April 2015, the chief executive of the Russian state-run arms trader Rosoboronexport confirmed that China secured a contract for the purchase of the S-400 air defence systems. Delivery of the system began in January 2018. China test fired Russian S-400 systems for the first time in early August 2018.

The acquisition of S-400, reported to initially consist of six batteries, significantly improved the country's ability to defend its own air space and served as an effective stand-off weapon against air attacks. With a 400 km (250 mi) coverage range, aircraft in disputed areas off the coast could be targeted by SAMs from the mainland; all of Taiwan could be covered from Fujian, and the Diaoyu Islands could be covered from Shandong, making it difficult for the US and Japan to deploy combat aircraft over those airspaces. Taiwan sought to address these potential advantages by locating activated S-400 batteries using extensive signals intelligence units and destroying them with stand-off weapons, cruise and ballistic missiles, and anti-radiation missiles.

Turkey

In late 2017, the president of Turkey and Russian officials signed a US$2.5 billion agreement for delivery of the S-400 air defence system units. The US Secretary of State raised concerns over the deal, but President Erdogan and other Turkish officials rejected the US threat of sanctions, citing existing international protocols agreed to by Turkey and Russia and that the S-400 offer with Russia was a better deal than the MIM-104 Patriot system offered by US. Turkey received its first installment of the Russian S-400 missile defense system on 12 July 2019. The US threatened Turkey with CAATSA sanctions and on 17 July suspended Turkey from the F-35 program, stating "F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities". As of 2020, 4 batteries consisting of 36 fire units, and 192+ missiles were delivered to Turkey.

Saudi Arabia

In September 2009, it was reported that the S-400 was a part of a US$2 billion arms deal being negotiated between Russia and Saudi Arabia. The agreement was reportedly delayed due to Saudis trying to acquire the more advanced S-400 but Russia was willing to sell only the S-300 air defence systems at the time. In October 2017, agreement was reached about the delivery of the S-400 air defense systems to Saudi Arabia. In November 2019, it was reported that the deal had still not been finalized.

India

On 15 October 2016, during the BRICS Summit, India and Russia signed an Inter-governmental Agreement (IGA) for the supply of five S-400 regiments. The US$5.43 billion deal (₹40,000 crore) was formally signed on 5 October 2018, ignoring threat of US sanctions. The deliveries are expected to commence by the end of 2020 and brought into service in October 2020. The United States threatened India with sanctions over India's decision to buy the S-400 missile defense system from Russia because India chose S-400 over American origin Patriot PAC 3.

Other foreign interest

Iran

In September 2007, Vice Chairman of Russia's State Duma, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, urged that "S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems should be delivered as soon as possible to enable Iran to defend its airspace.". In June 2019, amid tensions with the United States, some Iranian officials expressed interest for procurement of the S-400 missile system to further improve nation's defense capabilities along with previously bought S-300PMU2. Russia stated that it is ready to sell the S-400 system to Iran if an official request is made.

South Korea

South Korea is developing a simplified medium range SAM system, M-SAM Cheolmae-2, based on technology from the 9M96 missile and with help of the Almaz. The prime contractor is Samsung Thales, a joint venture between Samsung and Thales. The M-SAM will be composed of an X band multi-function radar vehicle built by Samsung Thales in technical cooperation with Almaz, fire-control vehicles and transporter erector launchers built by Doosan, and missiles provided by LIG Nex1.

Egypt

In February 2017, Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec, stated that Egypt was interested in the S-400 air defense system. He explained that Russia offered to sell Egypt either the Antey-2500 or S-400. According to Chemezov, the negotiations were delayed due to Egypt's financial issues.

Iraq

In February 2018, Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim al-Jaafari confirmed ongoing rumors that his country had shown interest in the S-400 and that negotiations with Russia were underway. In May 2019, the ambassador of Iraq to Russia, Haidar Mandour Hadi, said that the Iraqi government had decided to procure the S-400 air defence system.

Qatar

In January 2018, Russian state media TASS reported that Qatar was in an advanced state of talks to procure the S-400 air defense system.

Pakistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan stated on RT that Pakistan had the option of purchasing the S-400 air defense system from Russia but would not be doing so for the time being.

United States of America

In June 2020, United States’s Senate Majority Whip, John Thune, R-S.D., proposed an amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act to allow the US Department of Defense to purchase Turkey’s S-400 system, using the U.S. Army’s missile procurement account. The reasoning is that this would remove the issue of Turkey having a foreign military system that contravenes the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017, under which a nation procuring a major defense article from Russia faces major sanctions. This would then allow the USA to re-integrate Turkey into the F-35 Lightning II acquisition and ownership program.

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