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This is the second part of the three article series. This part gives an insight into the subsystems of S-400.

In the first part of the article, we have seen the basic features and characteristics of the S 400 system. In this second part, we will venture into the characteristics and capabilities of sub-systems which are getting delivered to India as a part of the contract.  

S-400 Package

S-400 Triumph, missile defence system is designed and developed to destroy intruding enemy fighter aircraft, AWACS/AEW&C aircraft, armed reconnaissance aircraft, cruise missiles, armed strategic bombers, Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBM) and all other atmospheric threats by countering the inherent Electronic Counter Measures capability of targets.

The details on deliverable as per Indo-Russian contract on S 400 is not currently available in the public domain. Each of the five S-400 systems comes with the following core components:-

  • The Battle Management System (30K6E), comprising the Command Control Post (55K6E) and ‘Big Bird’ acquisition radar (91N6E)
  •  Six Fire Control Units (98Zh6E) for each system, comprising a ‘Grave Stone’ multimode engagement radar (92N6E) and 12 Transporter Erector Launcher (5P85SE2 / 5P85TE2) for launching missiles.
  • Each Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) is armed with four tubes/containers which can be variants of missile combinations.
  • Mobile mast systems (40V6M/MD) with ‘Clam Shell’ low-altitude Frequency Modulated Continous (FMCW) Wave search and acquisition radar (76N6).
  • A complement of different Surface-to-Air-Missiles (SAMs), comprising missiles 48N6E, 48N6E2, 9M96E and 40N6E.
  • The logistic and maintenance support system (30Ts6E) has a missile storage, and test and maintenance facility.

All system components are mobile on self-propelled all-terrain movable platforms and have inherent power plant, navigation, communication, GPS and life support systems.

Sub-Systems and Structures of S-400
  • Mobile Control Centre (55K6E)

Image Source: https://geopoliticalfutures.com&https://commons.wikimedia.org

The main control station (55K6E) has visual display stations manned during the operations. Sub-systems are interlinked with a data link backbone. The integrated system has five consoles manned by five crew comprising one Air Defence Unit Commander, one Air Situation Management Officer, two Fire Control Officers and one Engineering Officer. The entire function of surveillance, target acquisition, target designation, prioritisation, tracking and engaging targets is done from this control system. The system can map and analyse the tactical situation of the battle-prone area. The decision to launch the most appropriate missile against each target is taken by the control station crew.

  •  ‘Big Bird’ Acquisition and Battle Management Radar (91N6E)
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The radar is tasked for identifying, acquiring and tracking aerial and ballistic targets. It is enriched with Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) capability to overcome Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) features of the approaching target. Radar is a passive phased array with conventional modes as well as a circular scan, fixed sector scan, electronic beam steering in elevation and azimuth. The antenna bore-sight can be mechanically tilted upward to large extend in order to steer the electronic beam to cover large elevation angle towards detecting re-entering ballistic missiles.

  • ‘Grave Stone’ Fire Control Radar (92N6E)
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The ‘Grave Stone’ is the fire control Active Electronically Steered Array (AESA) radar which features manual and automatic sector search, target acquisition and tracking. The ECCM is found to be superior among the peers and has better capabilities in target detection at low altitude cluttered environments. The radar also has Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF) capability to avoid firing friendly platforms. The system is capable of prioritising targets and specific areas for missile launches. It can provide mid-course corrections to missiles while tracking the targets. It can also control missiles with direct command link mode as well as the semi-active homing guidance mode. It also has the unique Track Via Missile (TVM) (Seeker Aided Ground Guidance, SAGG), wherein the missile seeker down-links the data for computation and calculates the future position of the target.

Data exchange between the ‘Grave Stone’ radar and Battle Management System is fully automated. The radar can track up to 100 targets in Track While Scan mode and perform precision tracking of six targets concurrently for missile engagements. The feature of increasing radar aperture power increases the capability to engage low Radar Cross Section (RCS)/stealth targets.

  • Mobile Launcher (5P85TE2/5P85SE2)
Image Source: https://geopoliticalfutures.com

Mobile launcher (5P85TE2/SE2) is a self-propelled mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) hosted on a MAZ-7910 truck chassis. The TEL vehicle can carry up to four launch tubes holding a mix of missiles. The launcher can deploy within 5 to 10 minutes of time. The selection of missile and launch is controlled from the control station via data link. Each tube can carry a single big missile or a combination of four small missiles. The command to launch an appropriate missile comes to TEL from the control station.

  • All Altitude Acquisition Radar (96L6E)
Image Source: https://geopoliticalfutures.com

“Cheese Board” (96L6E) is a 3D early-warning and acquisition radar operating in C-Band, an add-on radar for S-400. This is a phased array radar with 96 radiating rows and employs mechanical beam steering in azimuth and electronic beam steering in elevation. The radar is designed with ECCM features to provide high jam resistance and high clutter rejection. The three modes of operation include low altitude, all altitude and sector search. The radar can measure range, azimuth and elevation; it can perform up to 100 local tracks automatically and can classify and designate four different types of targets as aircraft, helicopters, UAVs and missiles. It can be operationalised in just five minutes.

  • 40V6MD/R–Mobile Mast System
Image Source: https://geopoliticalfutures.com 

The mobile mast systems (40V6M/MD) is a unique feature of the Russian air defence system where different types of radar can be fitted on top of mast specifically to target low flying fighter jets/missiles. Clam Shell (76N6) is a low-altitude Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) search and acquisition radar designed to detect and track the approaching and receding low radar cross-section targets, particularly cruise missiles. The system will detect targets at extremely low altitudes in ground clutter under against ECM. The 40V6MD mast is 39 m tall whereas 40V6M is 23.8 m tall. Both overcome the line of sight constraints to track the low flying targets. The image below depicts how early we can detect low flying target Over-the-Horizon (OTH) with the help of a mast. Mobility of the radar platform provides added flexibility for deployment.

The added advantage of having mast-mounted modular radar transmitter-receiver is depicted in the image above. The line of sight for detection can be increased specifically for low flying missiles. Mobile towable masts can switch the location under camouflage towards plugging the blind spots in the air defence system.

In part 3 of this article, we will see the variants of missiles of S 400 being used for air defence

Title Image Courtesy: https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of India and Defence Research and Studies.

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By Cdr (Dr) Jayakrishnan N Nair

Commander (Dr) Jayakrishnan N Nair (Retd), is an Aerospace Engineer by profession. He has served in the Indian Navy for 25 years. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, a DRDO TDF Expert, Life Member of the Aeronautical Society of India, All India Management Association, Computer Society of India and Indian Society of Training and Development. Apart from an MTech (Aero) and MBA, he has been honoured with a Doctorate in Advanced Studies (Aerospace/Science) by the University of Azteca, Mexico. An Associate Member at MP-IDSA, New Delhi and Senior Fellow (Defence and Military Analysis) at the Centre for Public Policy Research.