Amid a dramatic fall in Russian arms exports, Moscow will display the three pillars of its air defense—the S-400 Triumf, the S-350 Vityaz, and the Buk-M3 (Viking)—at the 15th edition of China’s Zhuhai Air Show, which takes place from November 12 to 17.
The announcement was made by the press office of state-owned Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defense Corporation on November 7. It comes after the Russian Su-57 fifth-generation stealth aircraft touched down in China to participate in the air show for the first time.
Russia is also displaying a host of advanced radars and MANPADS at the air show.
“During the exhibition, models of the long-range anti-aircraft missile system S-400 ‘Triumph,’ the S-350E ‘Vityaz’ air defense system, and the medium-range anti-aircraft missile system ‘Viking,’ short-range air defense systems of the ‘Tor’ family and the anti-aircraft gun and missile system ‘Tunguska-M1,’ as well as the anti-aircraft gunners of the ‘Typhoon-Air Defense(E),’ will be displayed,” the message from the company stated.
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Further, the company’s representatives will discuss with partners and prospective clients the modernization of air defense systems, maintenance and repair of the previously delivered equipment, and operational training and product use.
As China’s biggest biennial air show, the Zhuhai Air Show draws massive crowds of spectators. Some pro-Russian military watchers said this would be an excellent opportunity for Russia to market some of its arsenal’s best air defense systems. The S-400 and S-350 Vityaz were also displayed at the 14th edition of the Chinese air show held in 2022, as reported by EurAsian Times at the time.
Over the last few years, Russia has sold the S-400 Triumf to multiple countries, including India, China, Belarus, Algeria, and Turkey. However, it has been looking for foreign customers for the cutting-edge S-350, the Buk-M3, and the Viking systems.
Notably, these systems’ upcoming participation in the Zhuhai Air Show comes at a time when Russia is struggling to fulfill scheduled export orders as it remains saddled with the ongoing Ukraine War.
With the burgeoning demand for arms domestically, Russian arms exports have taken a hit. For instance, the delivery of the S-400 ordered by India has been delayed.
Several states that have traditionally bought Russian weapons are now looking for alternatives due to Russia’s production woes due to Western sanctions and delays in deliveries. Russia’s inability to fulfill orders in a timely manner has led to discontent among allies.
Against this backdrop, Russia’s promotion of its military equipment for export is intriguing. Analysts surmise that Russia may be positioning its air defense systems to potential buyers based on the combat experience they have accrued in the Ukraine war.
Russian air defenses have been praised throughout the war for their incredible resilience despite their relatively inconsistent combat effectiveness.
There is speculation that Russia is likely banking on the fact that Russian air defense systems have seen more combat than their analogs in the international arms export market.
Inconsistent Performance Has Not Dented Appeal
Russia touts the S-400 as the world’s best air defense system. However, the ongoing Russian invasion has yielded mixed results regarding the efficacy of S-400s.
In November 2023, the UK Ministry of Defense claimed that Ukraine had likely destroyed three S-400s in October 2023. More such claims about the S-400s’ destruction were made in June, August, and September this year.
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Despite these losses, the appeal of the S-400 has not waned. This is due to its advanced and unparalleled capabilities. For instance, despite their low-altitude flight paths, the S-400 can intercept cruise missiles at a range of about 40 kilometers. The missiles use semi-active or active radar homing. A full unit can engage 36 targets simultaneously, and two missiles can engage a single target. Even though the West often takes Russian claims with a pinch of salt, analysts in the West have acknowledged the system’s efficacy.
The Buk-M3 Viking
Another system that is set to be displayed at Zhuhai is the Buk-M3, whose export version is popularly known as Viking. It is a medium-range combat air defense system designed to take on maneuverable aerodynamic targets, engage radio-contrast ground targets, and hit naval targets under intensive enemy fire and jamming. The system has been operational in the so-called ‘special military operation’ zone since March 2022.
While it has been credited with shooting down an array of aerial threats throughout the conflict, several Buk-M3s have been struck by Ukraine, much like other air defense systems deployed at the frontline.
For instance, last month, Ukraine claimed the destruction of at least two Buk-M3. It may be pertinent to note that most Russian air defense systems have proven to be vulnerable to Ukrainian First Person View (FPVs) or kamikaze drones.
However, analysts have observed that the vulnerability is not unique to Russia, and the emergence of the swarm of drones poses a threat to all advanced air defense systems worldwide. For instance, in October, Russia claimed to have hit two Ukrainian Patriot Air Defense Systems; however, Kyiv denied the claim.
On its part, previous Russian media reports have claimed that the Buk-M3 is unrivaled globally and virtually twice as effective as its previous iterations, thanks to its new missile. Almaz-Antey exhibited the Viking surface-to-air missile system at IDEX 2023.
The third major system appearing at the Zhuhai Air Show has also gained the most traction in Russian media for quite some time: the S-350 Vityaz.
Russia Looking For Buyers For S-350
Russia has extensively deployed the S-350 against Ukraine. As previously reported by EurAsian Times, the system was deployed at an airbase over 40 miles away from Ukraine in August 2022 in what was touted to be its first operational combat deployment. The system has been credited with several significant kills, much to the chagrin of Ukrainian forces.
According to reliable sources, the S-350 Vityaz complex exhibits impressive operational capabilities. It can engage aerodynamic air targets, such as aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and similar devices, at an impressive range of 120 to 150 kilometers, and it can efficiently engage ballistic targets at a maximum range of 25 kilometers.
With the ability to intercept targets moving up to two kilometers per second, the Vityaz missiles provide quick and effective protection against threats in the air. A wheeled system with remarkable mobility, the S-350 can be quickly deployed into combat zones within minutes.
Head of the Military-Political Analysis Bureau Alexander Mikhailov said at Aero India 2023 that the S-350 Vityaz surface-to-air missile system can hit targets more precisely and would be less expensive than the US-made Patriot. He noted that while the Vityaz anti-aircraft missile system is comparable to the Patriot, the Russian missiles were faster and could hit low-flying targets.
“The Patriot does not shoot down targets flying at an altitude of lower than 100 meters, whereas the Vityaz knocks out targets at an altitude of 10 meters and higher.”
As of now, only Algeria is believed to have acquired the system.
The S-350 proved its mettle in May 2023 by autonomously detecting, tracking, and destroying Ukrainian air targets without operator intervention. This remarkable achievement marked the first instance where a system operated fully automatically using artificial intelligence in combat conditions.
At the time, the Vityaz system could simultaneously function in active and passive radar modes. This dual-mode technique greatly improved the complex’s detection and classification capabilities and also increased its noise immunity—or resistance to outside interference. The system’s appeal has only been on the rise.
As observers stated on social media, Russia is potentially using the exhibition at China’s most-awaited and keenly followed air show to regain its dominant position as one of the world’s biggest arms exporters.
