SA-21 Growler

S-400 Triumf NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler
S-400 Triumf launch vehicle
Type	Transportable SAM system
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
In service	2007[1]–present
Used by	Russia
Production history
Designer	Almaz/Antei Concern of Air Defence (PVO Konsern)
Designed	Late 1990s-Early 2000s[citation needed]
Manufacturer	Fakel Machine-Building Design Bureau

The S-400 Triumf (Russian: C-400 «Триумф») is a new generation air defense system developed primarily by the Almaz Central Design Bureau as an upgrade of the S-300 family.

The S-400's NATO reporting name is SA-21 Growler, and the system was previously known as S-300PMU-3. It overshadows the capabilities of the other systems from the S-300 series, and its range is claimed to be at least two times greater than that of the MIM-104 Patriot system.^[2][3]

According to Russian sources, the S-400 is capable of detecting and engaging targets out to a range of 400 km (250 miles), including aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, including those with a range of 3,500 km and a speed of 4.5 km/s. It has also been claimed that the S-400 is capable of detecting and engaging stealth aircraft.^[4][5][6]

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 was reportedly successful. As a result of this, the S-400 was scheduled for deployment in the Russian army in 2001.^{[citation needed]}.

In that same year, the project started encountering delays due to unclear reasons^{[citation needed]}. In 2003 it first became apparent that the system was ready for deployment, but in August two high ranking military officials expressed concerns^{[citation needed]} that the S-400 was being tested using 'obsolete' interceptors from the S-300P and concluded that it was not ready for production.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

Deployment

As of January 2006, the first Russian regiment was 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 upgraded to the standards of the S-400.^{[citation needed]}

The S-500 is described as an upgraded version of the S-400, which is estimated to be capable of engaging target missiles with ranges of up to 3,500 kilometers.^{[citation needed]}

On 21 May 2007, the Russian Air Force announced that S-400 will be put on combat duty around Moscow and Central Russia by July 1.^[7] Further sources claim that S-400 will be deployed near the town of Elektrostal.^[8]

On 6 August 2007, the first regiment equipped with S-400 entered active service in Moscow Oblast' near town of Elektrostal, according to Channel One Russia. Russian sources report the regiment based at Elektrostal is the 606th Guards 'Zenith' Rocket Regiment, 9th PVO Division, 1st PVO Corps, of the Special Purpose Command, the air defence command responsible for Moscow and the central industrial region.^[9]

On 8 February 2008, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Sviridov announced that Russia will be replacing the S-300 systems in the Northwest of Russia with the more technologically advanced S-400. This could mean that Russia plans for this system to be in place and represent a major component of their ballistic missile defense system until 2020.^[10]

The S-400 is also targeting the export market, with China reportedly already having spent $500 million on it. It has also been reported China may have been part of the development process.^[11] Russia has also offered the system to the United Arab Emirates and Greece.^[12] After showing of the S-400 during the IDEF 2009 in Istanbul Turkey has expressed interest in buying the system.^[13]

Perhaps the biggest impact for in particular the United States is nations like Iran expressing interest in the system.^[5] Vice Chairman of Russia's State Duma Vladimir Zhirinovsky has urged the fast delivery of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran. Such a move is likely seen as bolstering ties between Moscow and Tehran, something Washington has found difficult to deal with.^[14]

23 divisions (8 - 12 launchers each) of S-400 are planned for purchase to 2015.^[15]

South Korea is developing a simplified version of the S-400 called Cheolmae-2 with the help of Almaz Central Design Bureau. The Cheolmae-2 will be comprised of an X-band multi-function radar vehicle built by Almaz, a command post vehicle and several transporter-erector-launchers for Koreanized 9M96 missiles. The prime contractor is Samsung Thales, a joint venture between Samsung Electronics and Thales of France.^[16]

On March 17, 2009 Russia's defence minister announced that a second regiment equipped with advanced S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems has been put into combat service.^[17]

Russia is about to place these and give them to Belarus if the negotiations are successful.^{[citation needed]} India and Iran have also shown interest in this system. While it is speculated that China has acquired the technology and named it the HQ-19 and is about to sell it to Pakistan.^{[citation needed]}

Missile

9M96
Type	Surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	Russia
Production history
Variants	9M96, 9M96E and 9M96E2
Specifications (9M96[1])
Propellant	solid propellant rocket motor
Operational range	400 kilometres (250 mi)[1]
Boost time	cold launch ejection system
Guidance system	inertial guidance with radio command corrections
Steering system	gas dynamic flight control system

• The S-400 is intended to intercept and destroy airborne targets at a distance of up to 400 km (250 miles).^[3]
• The ABM capabilities are near the maximum allowed under the (now void) Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
• The radar system is claimed to possess advanced capabilities against low flying and (possibly) low RCS targets.^[18][19]
• Detection ranges of 500-600 km have been theorized for future radars.^[3]

See also

• Kolchuga passive sensor

References

External links

• Russian: www.almaz-antey.ru
• Almaz S-400 Triumf
• S-400 at www.dtig.org (German)
• First S-400 missile regiment to go on combat duty in Russia
• Almaz to build first X-band multi-function radar for Cheolmae-2