Heavy rain and storms cannot physically slow down S-400 surface-to-air missiles, according to WION. The outlet said the missiles' solid-fuel rocket engines produce enough thrust to overcome the aerodynamic drag created by raindrops.
Rain clouds are confined to the lower troposphere, while S-400 missiles spend most of their pursuit in clear sky, WION reported. When an interceptor does accelerate through low monsoon clouds, the main risk is not drag but erosion, as hypersonic impact with water droplets acts like abrasive sandblasting on the missile's outer shell.
Composite nose cone and radar jamming
WION said the missile's nose cone is protected by aerospace composite materials able to withstand heat generated at 14 times the speed of sound as well as droplet impacts. Storms can still absorb high-frequency X-band tracking signals, but the S-400 counters this by emitting large amounts of electromagnetic energy to maintain a continuous target lock, the outlet reported.
Why Russia targets Kyiv with S-400s
Aviation expert Valeriy Romanenko earlier explained that Russia uses S-400 missiles against Kyiv because they are a cheaper alternative to ballistic Iskander missiles. He said the tactic saves more expensive missiles, complicates Ukrainian air defense work, and reflects Russia's large stockpiles of S-400 missiles.
