A military expert spoke about the advantages of the Russian S-400 air defense system

The S-400 anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) is superior to its Western counterparts — for example, it allows you to hit a target at extremely low altitudes. This was announced to Izvestia on May 13 by the Director of the Museum of the Air Defense Forces, retired Colonel Yuri Knutov.

According to him, during the last conflict between India and Pakistan, the system showed very good efficiency, with its help two massive attacks were repulsed — one on the night of May 7-8, and the other on the evening of May 8. The S-400 air defense system worked in conjunction with the Indian Akash anti-aircraft missile system, which is an upgrade of the Soviet Buk air defense system, the expert said.

"Both cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, as well as drones, have been intercepted. Thanks to this, almost all the tasks of defending the main facilities were completed. In total, about 15 of the most important facilities blocked the S-400 in India," he said.

The military expert recalled that the Pakistani side announced the destruction of one of the divisions of the S-400 complex, but this information was denied by India. Most likely, Pakistan hit a division that imitates a combat one, Knutov noted.

Commenting on the participation of the S-400 in a special military operation in Ukraine, he stressed that the air defense system solves the tasks of combating aeroballistic targets. These include enemy cruise missiles, such as the Ukrainian Neptune.

The complex also covers the Crimean Bridge. Numerous attacks on the Crimean Bridge, which, thanks to the S-400 complex, were successfully repelled, the expert added.

"It is also superior to other complexes. That is, a system is being formed when the complex and pantsir, other complexes are connected to the S-400, and it controls the entire system," Knutov stressed.

The military expert added that the S-400 air defense system can be compared, perhaps, with the Western Patriot missile system. According to him, the Russian development has a number of advantages.

"This is a very fast roll-up and deployment time, the ability to fire at both aerodynamic targets and ballistic missiles. There is a possibility of hitting targets at extremely low altitudes, that is, literally, there, at an altitude of 10-15 m. The Patriot complex hits the target from 60 m. In addition, our complex has a range of 400 km, and the Patriot has a range of 250 km," the expert said.

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On May 13, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the S-400 systems purchased from Russia. According to him, they played a big role in the confrontation with Pakistan.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained by the terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam in southern Kashmir, which killed 27 people. On May 7, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor, during which they carried out nine targeted strikes against Pakistan's terrorist infrastructure. Islamabad retaliated with missile strikes. On May 10, the parties agreed on a cease-fire.