Russian media reported that China successfully tested a Russia-imported advanced defense system, as the two nations continually heighten their military cooperation. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force tested its newly purchased S-400 Triumf air defense system against a "simulated ballistic target" last month.
Reports showed that the S-400 successfully hit its target at a distance of about 250 km and moving at the supersonic speed of 3 km per second. It is the first test of the defense system since its arrival to China in July under a U.S. $3 billion contract in 2015. China is currently equipped with Russia's S-300 system in almost a decade and the country is the first to acquire the latest S-400 air defense missile system. According to reports India also signed a contract with Russia to Purchase S-400 systems despite the threat of U.S. sanctions.
Experts claim that Russia publicized the test to showcase the strong military cooperation between the two nations and to promote its air defense system. Li Jie, a Beijing-based military expert said that Russia wanted to highlight the relationship of the two nations at a time when the United States was at conflict with both Russia and China. He added that despite pressure from the U.S., the Russian military will increase its cooperation with the PLA in areas such as missiles, shipbuilding, and other sectors.
China and Russia heightened their military cooperation over the past decade as they compete with the United States for economic and military influence globally.
According to Song Zhongping, a PLA focused military expert based in Hong Kong, the air defense test is an advertisement to promote the S-400 system. He also added that the PLA Rocket Force is proficient in using the S-400 air defense system because they are already familiar with the S-300. Song also noted the difference between using a "simulated ballistic target" and real hypersonic missiles. According to him, hypersonic weapons boast features like maneuverability and they are almost impossible to intercept because they are traveling at such high speed.
Russia advertises the S-400 system as a cutting-edge air defense system that can detect and hit fast moving targets at a distance of up to 600 km away and at an altitude between 10 meters to 27 km. It is also advertised to simultaneously shoot down 36 targets at moving speed of up to 4,800 meters per second using 72 ground-to-air missiles.
