Russia’s S-400 Triumf was supposed to be the U.S. Air Force killer. Moscow called it “the best long-range air defense system in the world.” Then Ukraine destroyed S-400 batteries in Crimea with older Western weapons, and Israel’s F-35I Adir stealth fighters wiped out Iran’s entire S-400 network without one missile shooting them down.
The S-400: Russia’s Air Defense Falls Short
The much vaunted Russian S-400 missile defense system, which in typical Russian bombast was proclaimed to be a US Air Force killer, has had mixed results in combat.
The S-400 Triumf, known to NATO as the SA-21 Growler, is a long-range, road-mobile surface-to-air missile system and the successor to the S-300. It has proven highly capable in certain scenarios while exhibiting significant vulnerabilities in high-intensity conflicts.
Deployed in Syria and Ukraine, it has intercepted drones, missiles, and aircraft, but has also suffered multiple, costly, and embarrassing losses to Ukrainian drone and missile strikes.
In Iran, the Israeli and US bombing campaigns wiped out Iran’s defenses, which included the older S-300 as well as the S-400 systems.
The S-400’s Performance In Ukraine Has Not Been Good
Russia’s S-400 is considered one of the world’s most advanced air-defense systems, but during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, multiple units have been destroyed, including by older Western weapons that were considered lesser threats to the system.
The S-400 is considered Moscow’s equivalent to the US Patriot missile system.
In 2024, Rosoboronexport, the Russian state-owned military company that oversees most of Russia’s military exports, called it the “best long-range air defense system in the world.”
Russia’s S-400 Air Defense System. Image: Russian Military.
S-400. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
While Ukrainian forces consider the S-400’s threat to be substantial, they have shot down several missiles and have destroyed some of the systems as well.
Ukraine has destroyed S-400 systems in Crimea.
The Ukrainians have done their homework and found weaknesses they can exploit. Researchers from the Rand Corporation wrote about the S-400 system and its weaknesses.
“Without over-the-horizon sensors, the S-400 and other powerful HIMADS systems are vulnerable to a low-altitude attack by cruise missiles, which, in large numbers, can overwhelm an air defense system.”
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also wrote that the S-400, which was designed to engage aircraft, drones, and ballistic missiles, the S-400 has shown vulnerabilities to Ukrainian strikes in Crimea.
The Failure Of The S-400 In Iran
Immediately after the Israeli airstrikes in Iran on October 25-26 in 2024, multiple news sites repeated the Iranian claim that the airstrikes did very little damage. International military analysts reported that the impact of Israel’s airstrikes was minimal, with only minor damage sustained at the targeted military sites due to the air-launched ballistic missile strikes.
Some even commented on the “failure” of Israel to inflict widespread destruction on Iran. Others went so far as to say that Israeli Air Force’s F-35I ‘Adir’ stealth fighters were ‘locked on’ by Iran’s air defense radar while they were still in Iraqi airspace, en route to Iran’s border,” stated one intelligence source.
“At that moment, the Israeli stealth aircraft were several hundred kilometers from the Iraq-Iran border.”
Iran’s radar capabilities in detecting Israel’s stealth fighters reportedly caught the Israeli Air Force by surprise, compelling them to launch missiles prematurely and retreat, according to this false report.
F-35I Adir from Israel. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
An Israeli Air Force F-35I Lightning II “Adir” approaches a U.S. Air Force 908th Expeditionary Refueling Squadron KC-10 Extender to refuel during “Enduring Lightning II” exercise over southern Israel Aug. 2, 2020. While forging a resolute partnership, the allies train to maintain a ready posture to deter against regional aggressors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Charles Taylor)
An Israeli Air Force pilot climbs into an F-35I Adir prior to a Red Flag-Nellis 23-2 mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, March 16, 2023. Red Flag is an opportunity to build on the success of JUNIPER OAK 23-2, JUNIPER FALCON, and additional combined exercises to enhance interoperability with Israel, strengthen bilateral cooperation, and improve capabilities in ways that enhance and promote regional stability and reinforce the United States’ enduring commitment to Israel’s security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Trevor Bell)
“It was shocking for Israel, forcing them to launch the ALBM before reaching the optimal position initially planned and then return to Israeli airspace,” it added. This is strictly propaganda that the anti-Israeli world lapped up and repeated.
While the Israelis did launch their missiles from over 100 miles away, the one detail that these analysts leave out is that the Israelis obliterated Iran’s air defenses. The much-hyped Russian-built S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft systems that supposedly “painted” Israeli F-35I fighters didn’t shoot down one. That is a very telling statistic
So, the 100 Israeli aircraft “retreated” after destroying Iran’s air defenses. But the one other thing they left out was that an Iranian nuclear research center, believed to have been shut down years ago, was severely damaged.
In December 2024, the Israelis targeted Syria, which has the same Russian air defenses. Chemical weapons sites, missiles, air defenses, and other military targets were struck during airstrikes. The Israelis lost no aircraft during those air strikes.
And in June of last year, the current air campaign by Israel and the United States decimated Iran’s air defenses. Whether it was the manner in which Iran was using its air defenses or a weakness in the system itself will eventually be learned.
The S-400 has performed well in certain aspects during the war in Ukraine, while its weaknesses were exposed by Kyiv when the system was left unutilized and not integrated with other systems.
The S-400 Triumf has been in service with the Russian military since 2007 and has been exported to or sold to countries such as Iran, India, Turkey, and China.
NATO air planners have certainly given the S-400 respect for its capabilities. It enhances Russia’s defense depth while recognizing that it is far from invulnerable.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
