World’s Top Multirole Air Defence Systems From Russia’s S-400 to Israel’s David’s Sling

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Surface to air missile systems began to enter service in the early Cold War years as part of the arms race between the Soviet and Western Blocs, with the Soviet Union being the first to deploy such as system with a S-25 long ranged anti aircraft missile network built around Moscow.

Such weapons platforms would play crucial roles in many major conflicts such as the Vietnam War and the Yom Kippur War, usually on the side of Soviet defence clients, with the USSR investing far more heavily in these technologies. Long range surface to air missile systems have come a long way since the Cold War, with many today attaining hypersonic speeds and introducing technologies such as cold launch systems to improve effectiveness. While some surface to air missile systems such as the Russian A-235 and American GMD have only a single role - these two designed exclusively to intercept enemy long ranged ballistic missiles - the majority are capable of engaging a range of targets including cruise missiles, aircraft and ballistic missiles. An assessment and ranking of the five most advanced and capable multirole surface to air missile systems is given below