So what would a SAM regiment of S-400 and radar run for?
Since we’re comparing them to prices of MiG-29 upgrades and acquisitions, I think that’s an important question as well.

When it comes to 400 km range, the target has to be a high flying airliner.
Curvature of earth sets that limit. Against a low level intruder it is < 40 km without terrain-masking and much less with.
Compared to a fighter such a system is a stationar target, when not in a protected cluster of different systems.

I don’t think it has to be much of a high flying airliner, just a high flying aircraft. During operation allied force, aircraft; other than the a-10; all flew at 20000 ft. or higher.

I don’t think that the sum was 10 million euros. I believe that it was 10-12 a year for the past 3-5 years has been saved up. Include that with Russia’s debt to Serbia, along with perhaps Romania’s, Ukraine’s, and Belarus’s….. I would LIKE to think that 500 million USD could be scrapped up in CREDIT. So, if that credit comes in the form of mig’s from romania, bits and pieces from belarus and ukraine; as well as upgrades from Russia…. Again, I would LIKE to think that this is the case. I just don’t see them spending money upgrading these few of planes if they’re not going to get more to beef up the AF. Perhaps 16-24 combat worthy MiGs would be a good base squadron.

Off of the subject though, how much would a regiments strength of Buk-II’s or an S-400 regiment go for. I am gonna guess based off of S-300 procurements maybe 4 billion dollars??? FAS posted a sale to India for 6 S-300 units and an appropriate number of missiles for 1 billion USD. Would the S-400 missiles be less expense because of the smaller size of the 9M96 missile. I am not suggesting a purchase by Serbia, I am just interested in the price and/or worth of a regiment.

Regiment based on:

S-400 SA-20 Triumf
The Triumf S-400 is a new generation of air defense and theater anti-missile weapon developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau as an evolution of the S-300PMU [SA-10] family. This new system is intended to detect and destroy airborne targets at a distance of up to 400 km (2- 2.5 times greater than the previous S-300PMU system). The Triumf system includes radars capable of detecting low-signature targets. And the anti-missile capability of the system has been increased to the limits established by the ABM Treaty demarcation agreements — it can intercept targets with velocities of up to 4.8 km/sec, corresponding to a ballistic missile range of 3,500 km.
The system was developed through the cooperation of the Almaz Central Design Bureau, Fakel Machine Building Design Bureau, Novosibirsk Scientific Research Institute of Instruments, St. Petersburg Design Bureau of Special Machine Building and other enterprises.

The Fakel Machine Building Design Bureau has developed two new missiles for Triumf.

The “big” missile [designation otherwise unknown] has a range of up to 400 km and will be able to engage “over- the-horizon [OTH]” targets using a new seeker head developed by Almaz Central Design Bureau. This seeker can operate in both a semiactive and active mode, with the seeker switched to a search mode on ground command and homing on targets independently. Targets for this missile include airborne early warning and control aircraft as well as jammers.
The 9M96 missile is designed to destroy aircraft and air- delivered weapons at ranges in excess of 120 km. The missile is small– considerably lighter than the ZUR 48N6Ye used in the S-300PMU1 systems and the Favorit. The missile is equipped with an active homing head and has an estimated single shot kill probability of 0.9 for manned aircraft and 0.8 for unmanned maneuvering aircraft. a gas-dynamic control system enables the 9M96 missile to maneuver at altitudes of up to 35 km at forces of over 20g, which permits engagment of non- strategic ballistic missiles. A mockup of the missile was set up at an Athens arms exhibition in October 1998. One 9M96 modification will become the basic long-range weapon of Air Force combat aircraft, and may become the standardized missile for air defense SAM systems, ship-launched air defense missile systems, and fighter aircraft.
These new missiles can be accomodated on the existing SAM system launchers of the S-300PMU family. A container with four 9M96’s can be installed in place of one container with the 5V55 or 48N6 missiles, and thus the the standard launcher intended for four 48N6Ye missiles can accommodate up to 16 9M96Ye missiles. Triumf provides for the greatest possible continuity with systems of the S-300PMU family (PMU1, PMU2), making it possible to smoothly change over to the production of the new generation system. It will include the previous control complex, though supporting not six but eight SAM systems, as well as multifunctional radar systems illumination and guidance, launchers, and associated autonomous detection and target indication systems.
The state tests of the S-400 system reportedly began in 1999, with the initial test on 12 February 1999. As of May 1999 the testing of S-400 air defense system was reportedly nearing completion at Kapustin Yar, with the first systems of this kind to be delivered to the Moscow Air Force and Air Defense District in the fourth quarter of 1999. However, as of August 1999 government testing of the S-400 was slated to begin at the end of 1999, with the first system complex slated for delivery in late 2000. The sources of the apparent one-year delay in the program are unclear, though they may involve some combination of technical and financial problems with this program. Russian air defense troops conducted a test of the new anti-aircraft missile system S-400 on 07 April 2000. At that time, Air Force Commander Anatoly Kornukov said that serial production of the new system would begin in June 2000. Kornukov said air defense troops would get one S-400 launcher system by the end of 2000, but it would be armed with missiles of the available S-300 system.

On condition of normal funding, radars with an acquisition range of 500-600 km should become operational by 2002-2003. However, other sources report that while it was ordered by the Defence Ministry, the military has nothing to pay for it with, so it is unclear when the Russian military will get this new weapon.

The Russian Air Force is studying a reduction in the number of types of air defense weapons, and it is possible that Triumf will become the only system being developed, providing defense both in the close-range and mid-range as well long-range zones

Since when is using missiles to soften up an areas defense a waste??? They used them, and they worked. It took three days to knock out the town. Using those bombs, rockets, etc. etc. saved lives by not forcing them to go at entrenched positions.