According to a video released by Russian national television on October 2, 2023, Russia is in the process of developing a specialized ground-attack missile for its S-400 anti-aircraft system. Dmitry Medvedev, the Secretary of the Russian Federation Council, confirmed this development. The new missile should be an upgraded version of the existing 48N6 anti-aircraft missile, and it is engineered to offer enhanced range, increased accuracy, and a more substantial warhead. This advancement could significantly shift the strategic landscape, considering the already formidable capabilities of the S-400 system.
The S-400 system mainly uses the 48N6 series of missiles, which can hit aerial targets at ranges of up to 150 km and intercept ballistic missiles at a radius of 60 km using a 143 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead. The new missile is an obvious modernization of the 48N6, which is already being considered for ground attack roles. The new missile is said to have increased range, accuracy, and warhead, although specific details remain to be confirmed.
Given that the new missile is a modernization of the 48N6 missile, which has a range of 150 km and a warhead of 180 kg, significant improvements in these areas can be expected. This could mean an extended range well beyond 150 km and a warhead significantly heavier than 180 kg, which would significantly increase its destructive power.