An S-400 surface-to-air missile launcher is seen in Moscow, Russia. The Russian S-400 is arguably one of the very best all-around strategic SAM systems in operation today, and an even better replacement in the form of the S-500 is currently in development.
Russian surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) continue to dominate the headlines. The country's long-range S-400 SAM systems recently made landfall in Turkey , much to the consternation of the West, while its older S-300 variants have been exported to a variety of countries, including Syria. Public discussions persist over whether Gulf states should buy long-range Russian air defense platforms — as opposed to American ones — or whether Iran could acquire S-400s to bolster its air defenses. Given the system's power, it's no wonder that such sales are dominating the news. But the reality remains that the value of long-range SAMs does not directly equal their theoretical capabilities, depending far more on who is using the system — and how. The Value of Air Defense Long-range SAM systems, including the Russian S-300 and S-400, are profoundly capable weapons.
