Ukraine disrupts Russian defences with S‑400 radar strike
The General Staff of Ukraine reported an attack on Russian positions in the Kursk region on the night of November 23, Eastern Time. During this attack, Ukrainians reportedly destroyed a radar station of the S-400 Triumph system, one of Russia's latest anti-aircraft and missile defence systems. The loss of this radar is a significant blow to the capabilities of Russian air defence.
According to the General Staff of Ukraine, the targeted unit conducted combat operations in "ground-to-ground" mode, targeting stationary ground targets. They noted that civilian targets and peaceful residents of settlements in Ukraine's border regions often fall victim to such bombings by Russian forces. Although it has not been officially disclosed what type of weapon was used in the attack on the S-400 system's radar, unofficial sources mention ATACMS missiles, as the Bulgarian Military Service reported.
Russians lost the S-400 system radar
The loss of the S-400 system radar operating in the Kursk region is a major setback for Russian air defence capabilities. The S-400 Triumph, developed by the Russian Almaz-Antey Design Bureau, is one of the most advanced air defence systems globally. It was developed from the earlier S-300 model and can counter airplanes, helicopters, and cruise and ballistic missiles.
This system can intercept targets moving at speeds up to approximately 4,800 metres per second, and its operational range varies depending on the missiles used: from about 40 kilometres with 9M96 missiles to over 400 kilometres with 40N6E missiles. Despite its technological advancements, the S-400 is not without flaws. The war in Ukraine has uncovered certain limitations in its performance.
Ukrainian forces have successfully destroyed several S-400 batteries using modern Western technologies, such as MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles. Contrary to the expectations of Russian designers, the system does not always effectively cope with the latest threats. A particular problem is intercepting targets moving on steep trajectories, which poses new challenges for the Russian army in effectively using the S-400.
