China buys the S-400 Anti-Air System...the Pacific just turned deadly for airpower...

via Army Recognition..

The systems, which are capable of launching up to 72 missiles and engaging up to 36 targets simultaneously, entered service in 2007 to replace the S-300 systems. S-400 Triumf is designed to shield from air strikes, strategic, cruise, tactical and operating tactical ballistic missiles and medium-range ballistic missiles.
Design bureau Almaz is responsible for the development of the S-400 Triumf. It is a long-to-medium-range surface-to-air missile system, designed to intercept a range of ground-based and airborne targets, such as stealth aircraft, strategic carriers and cruise and ballistic missiles at a distance of 400km.
The S-400 is code-named the SA-21 Growler. It is an upgrade of the S-300 missile system and features three different missiles, including the extremely long-range 40N6, 48N6 long-range and a 9M96 medium-range missile.
Apart from China, the system has also attracted interest from a number of foreign countries, including Saudi Arabia, Belarus, and Turkey.
Russia plans to buy up to 200 launchers (each with two or four missiles) by 2015, and phase out the older S-300 and S-200 systems. This would mean deploying at least 18 battalions by 2017 and 56 by 2020 (or organized into 28 battalions containing two battalions each).
China plans to deploy its first S-400 battalion opposite Taiwan. That one battalion can cover all Taiwanese air space. The next battalions will be deployed to deal with Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.

Read the Army Recognition article here. 

Read Air Power Australia's analysis of the system here (the best I've seen open source on the web).

You do know what this means don't you folks?

China can cover most areas of interest (for them) from their mainland.  IF they decide to acquire, copy...whatever...even more of the missiles and stage them on those islands they're building then they would cover the Pacific all the way to Hawaii (against certain targets) and that's only the air side of the house...the same applies if they position anti-ship missiles on those islands (especially the longer ranged versions we've been getting hints of).

The Chinese are winning the war before the first shot has been fired.  Engagement isn't working...WE MUST DO BETTER!