Russia's S-400 Triumf

Why in news?

S-400 Triumf is in the middle of an ongoing stand-off between Russia and Western nations.

What is S-400 Triumf?

• S-400 Triumf is one of the world’s most advanced air defence systems.
• The system is a large complex of radars, control systems and different types of missiles.
• It can simultaneously track numerous incoming objects in a radius of a few hundred kilometres.
• The objects may include all kinds of aircraft, missiles and UAVs.
• It can employ appropriate missile systems to launch the counter attack and to neutralise the objects.
• The system is potential of ensuring a high success rate.

How did it evolve?

• S-400 traces its origins to the demands of the Cold War period.
• It was an effort to find a credible counter to the threat from missiles and incoming enemy aircraft.
• The development of S-400 started towards the end of the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
• It was disrupted by the collapse of the Communist bloc in 1991.

What is the recent development?

• The acquisition of S-400 by countries has taken centre stage in the American diplomacy regarding Russia.
• U.S. believes that S-400 could access sensitive U.S. military technologies in service with the potential buyers.
• Russia has also deployed at least two S-400 systems in Syria.
• This is of much concern to observers who fear the system could contribute to a global conflict breaking out in Syria.
• Among the countries under pressure from the U.S. to not buy this weapon are India and Turkey.

Source: The Hindu