Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-3 vs Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf
Full specs: Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-3 Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf
Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-3 and Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf are both air defense system, compared here on public specifications. The Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf leads on engagement range (400 vs 60 km). Several Russia-origin figures here are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification, so treat this comparison as directional.
Verdict
On paper the S-400's claimed 400km engagement range dwarfs the Patriot PAC-3's 60km, but that comparison is misleading: the two systems solve different problems. Patriot PAC-3's hit-to-kill interceptor is purpose-built for precision endo-atmospheric defense against ballistic missiles and aircraft at shorter range, while the S-400 layers multiple interceptor types (48N6, 9M96E/E2, 40N6E) to cover a much wider engagement envelope, with its longest-range shots relying on largely unverified Russian performance claims. In the Russia-Ukraine war, both systems' reputations have taken real hits: Patriot batteries are credited with intercepting Russian ballistic and cruise missiles (including contested Kinzhal engagement claims), while multiple S-400 launchers and radars have been documented destroyed by Ukrainian ATACMS and drone strikes, denting the system's reputation for near-invulnerability. Patriot's figures come from a transparent NATO-aligned source; the S-400's carry this site's standard state-claim caveat.
Analysis by Cole Merrick, Defense-systems data columnist, WeaponSpecs · Last updated 2026-08-06
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Full data
Full spec sheet
| Performance | ||
| Max speed (Mach) (Mach) | 5 Mach | 14 Mach ✓ |
| Engagement range (km) | 60 km | 400 km ✓ |
| Engagement altitude (m) | 24,000 m | 30,000 m ✓ |
| Simultaneous targets | 8 | 36 ✓ |
| Firepower | ||
| Warhead (kg) | 74 kg | 180 kg ✓ |
| Sensors & avionics | ||
| Radar range (km) | 170 km | 600 km ✓ |
| Program | ||
| Unit cost (USD) | $1,100,000,000 | $500,000,000 ✓ |
| Operator countries | 19 ✓ | 4 |
Analysis
Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-3 vs Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf: how they match up
Interceptors and engagement approach
The PAC-3 MSE missile is a hit-to-kill interceptor, physically colliding with its target rather than exploding near it, a demanding, precision-first approach specifically built to defeat tactical ballistic missiles as well as aircraft and cruise missiles. The S-400 instead fields a family of interceptors, the shorter-range 9M96E/E2, the longer-range 48N6, and the very-long-range 40N6E, giving it a tiered engagement envelope from close-in to its claimed maximum range, at the cost of relying on older semi-active radar homing for most of that family rather than PAC-3's more modern guidance approach.
Range and radar
Patriot's published engagement range (60km) and altitude ceiling (24,000m) are far more conservative than the S-400's claimed 400km range and 30,000m ceiling, but the S-400's outer-envelope figures rest on the 40N6E missile, whose real combat performance has never been independently confirmed. Patriot's AN/MPQ-65 radar reaches 170km; the S-400's 91N6E "Big Bird" claims 600km, though detection range and effective engagement range against a maneuvering, jamming-capable target are not the same thing for either system.
Simultaneous targets and battery cost
A Patriot battery can reportedly engage 8 simultaneous targets; the S-400 claims 36, a figure that, like its range claims, has not been independently verified in a documented large-scale engagement. A full Patriot battery (launchers, radar, command posts) costs roughly $1.1 billion; the S-400's approximate $500 million per battalion set is a Russian export estimate, not an independently audited figure.
Real-world performance in Ukraine
Patriot batteries deployed to Ukraine since 2023 have been credited with intercepting Russian ballistic and cruise missiles, including claimed engagements of the Kinzhal aeroballistic missile, figures that remain partly disputed but come from a Western-aligned reporting chain. Several S-400 launchers and radars in Russian-occupied Crimea have been documented destroyed by Ukrainian ATACMS and drone strikes, real losses that have prompted independent debate about how the system's claimed capabilities hold up against a determined, technologically assisted opponent, rather than against the peer-state threat it was originally designed to counter.
Frequently asked questions
Is the S-400 better than the Patriot? +
The S-400 claims a far longer range on paper, but its outer-envelope figures are unverified Russian claims, and documented Ukrainian strikes have destroyed multiple S-400 systems. Patriot's figures come from a more transparent source and have a real, if partly disputed, intercept record.
Why is the S-400's range so much longer than the Patriot's? +
The S-400 layers multiple interceptor types up to the very-long-range 40N6E, while Patriot PAC-3 prioritizes precision hit-to-kill interception at shorter range; they were designed around different tradeoffs, not simply different technology generations.
Has the S-400 been destroyed in combat? +
Yes, multiple S-400 launchers and radars in Russian-occupied Crimea have been documented destroyed by Ukrainian ATACMS and drone strikes since the full-scale invasion began.
Why did Turkey's S-400 purchase cause a NATO rift? +
The United States removed Turkey from the F-35 program and imposed sanctions in response to its 2019 S-400 purchase, citing the risk of a Russian system operating alongside NATO's most advanced stealth fighter.
Which has the longer engagement range? +
The Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf has the longest engagement range at 400 km.
Which is cheaper? +
The Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf has the lower public unit-cost figure at 500,000,000 USD. Treat this as directional, defense pricing varies by contract and configuration.
Which has the higher max speed (mach)? +
The Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf has the higher max speed (mach) at 14 Mach.
Which has the higher simultaneous targets? +
The Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf has the higher simultaneous targets at 36.
Which has the higher warhead? +
The Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf has the higher warhead at 180 kg.
Which has the higher engagement altitude? +
The Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf has the higher engagement altitude at 30,000 m.
Is the Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-3 better than the Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf? +
On the public specs we track, the Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf leads on 6 of 6 headline metrics, see the full spec sheet for the metric-by-metric breakdown.
Where does this comparison data come from? +
Every figure in the table is sourced from public manufacturer pages, defense-ministry releases and reference publications, and is verifiable on each system's spec page. WeaponSpecs does not accept vendor placement.
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