S-400 Triumf

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The S-400 Triumf (Russian: C-400 «Триумф»; English: triumph) is a new generation of anti-aircraft/anti-missile weapon system developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau as an upgrade of the S-300 family. Its NATO reporting name is SA-21 Growler. The S-400 was previously known as S-300PMU-3. It overshadows the capabilities of the other systems from the S-300 series, and its range is also greater than that of the MIM-104 Patriot system.^[1]^[2]

The S-400 has the capability to detect and destroy aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and is claimed to possess advanced capabilities for detecting and engaging aircraft with low radar cross sections.^[3]

1 Development
2 Deployment
3 Specifications
4 References
5 External Links

[edit] Development

The development of the S-400 system began in the late 1990s. The system was formally announced by the Russian Air Force in January 1999. On 12 February 1999, the first tests were performed at Kapustin Yar in Astrakhan which reportedly went well. As a result of this, the S-400 was scheduled for deployment in the Russian army in 2001.

In that same year, the project started encountering delays due to unclear reasons. The poor financial state of the Russian military may have played a part. In 2003 it first became apparent that the system was ready for deployment, but in August two high ranking military officials expressed concerns that the S-400 was being tested using 'obsolete' interceptors from the S-300P and concluded that it was not ready for production^[4].

Finally the completion of the project was announced in February 2004. In April, a ballistic missile was successfully intercepted in a test of the upgraded 48N6DM interceptor missile.

[edit] Deployment

As of January 2006, the first Russian regiment is being trained in the use of the S-400 system, with the deployment of the regiment scheduled later in 2006. Eventually all 35 air defense regiments will be equipped with the S-400 and the older S-300 and S-200 systems will be phased out.

The S-400 is also targeting the export market, with China reportedly already having spent $500 million on it. Russia has also offered the system to the United Arab Emirates and Greece.^[5] Perhaps the biggest impact for in particular the United States is nations like Iran expressing interest in the system.^[3]

18 divisions (8 - 12 launchers each) of S-400 are planned for purchase to 2015 [1].

[edit] Specifications

The S-400 is intended to intercept and destroy airborne targets at a distance of up to 400 km.^[2] This is twice the range of the MIM-104 Patriot, and 2½ times that of the S-300PMU-2.
The ABM capabilities are near the maximum allowed under the (now void) Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
The radar system possesses advanced capabilities against low flying and low RCS targets.^[1]^[6]
Detection ranges of 500-600km have been theorized for future radars.^[2]