Russia's S-400 vs S-500: What Sets These Air Defence Giants Apart?
Russia's S-400 and S-500 are two of its most advanced air defence missile
systems, but they differ significantly in capabilities and intended roles.
The S-400, known as a highly successful system with a proven track record
including in India's recent operations, provides theatre-level air defence
with a range of up to 400 km and can intercept targets up to 30 km in
altitude.
It counters aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles effectively, providing
regional air dominance with missiles like the 48N6 and 40N6 variants.
The Russian-made S-400 air defence missile system was a major success during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. It effectively detected, tracked, and shot down multiple Pakistani aircraft and incoming drones at long ranges, including a record-breaking kill at over 300 km.
The system demonstrated complete air power dominance over Pakistani airspace by neutralising hostile aerial threats and thwarting attempts to escalate the conflict. This success validated India's $5.43 billion acquisition of the S-400 and marked a significant boost to India's aerial defence capabilities, reshaping the air warfare balance in the region.
The Indian Air Force Chief Marshal praised the S-400 as a game-changer that kept Pakistani aircraft and their long-range weapons at bay throughout the operation.
In contrast, the S-500 Prometheus is a next-generation system designed not
just for air defence but for national-level strategic defence. It extends the
range to approximately 500-600 km and can intercept targets at extreme
altitudes of up to 180-200 km, including near-space targets which the S-400
cannot reach.
The S-500 can handle a broader spectrum of threats such as ballistic missiles,
hypersonic glide vehicles, and even low Earth orbit satellites, using advanced
interceptor missiles like the 77N6-N and 77N6-N1. It integrates a faster
response time, the ability to track and engage a larger number of targets
simultaneously, and employs kinetic hit-to-kill technology for precision
interceptions.
Operationally, the S-400 provides tactical and operational defence by
protecting regions or theatres, whereas the S-500 is designed to manage
strategic threats, safeguarding cities, critical infrastructure, and command
nodes across the nation.
Consequently, the S-400 has been a vital asset for India’s air dominance
against threats such as those faced in Operation Sindoor, while the S-500
promises a leap forward with potential joint production with India and
capabilities to counter hypersonic and space-borne threats, making it a
cornerstone for future multi-domain defence.
This difference marks the S-500 not just as an upgrade, but as a
transformative system for air, missile, and near-space defence.
Summary of key differences
| Feature | S-400 | S-500 |
|---|---|---|
| Range | Up to 400 km | 500-600 km |
| Altitude Coverage | Up to 30 km | Up to 180-200 km |
| Target Envelope | Fighters, bombers, UAVs, cruise missiles, and some tactical ballistic missiles | Ability to track and engage very high-speed ballistic and hypersonic threats in their terminal phase |
| Defence Role | Theatre air defence | National ballistic, hypersonic, and space units |
| Interceptor Missiles | 48N6, 40N6 | 77N6-N, 77N6-N1 (hit-to-kill) |
| Target Engagement | 6-36 targets simultaneously (varies by source) | 80-100 targets simultaneously |
| Strategic Scope | Tactical/Operational | Tactical and Strategic |
| Coverage Effect | Regional | National, protecting critical infrastructure |
| Deterrence Outcome | Regional Air Dominance | Continental missile and hypersonic defence advantage |
| Sensors | Combination of Panoramic and multifunction radars | Incorporates newer radar and command systems, for broader frequency coverage, faster reaction times and better high-altitude tracking allowing them to cue interceptors against many simultaneous high-velocity tracks |
| Kill Mechanism | Proximity-fused warheads (blast/fragmentation) and a layered mix of missile types to increase kill probability | Includes kinetic “hit-to-kill” or very high closing-speed interceptors better suited to destroying ballistic payloads and hypersonic units |
Thus, while the S-400 provides robust and proven capabilities for conventional aerial threats, the S-500 significantly expands the envelope to cover emerging high-speed and space-based threats, marking a leap in strategic air and missile defence technology for India and other operators.
IDN (With Agency Inputs)
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