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Alternate Name:	SA-20 Triumf
Country:	Russia
Basing:	Land

Details

The S-400, also known by its NATO designation, SA-20 Triumf, is an advanced Russian surface-to-air missile system. Once operational, it will be able to destroy aircraft, cruise missiles, and short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 400 kilometers. The Russians eventually plan to phase out their existing S-200 (NATO: SA-5 Gammon) and S-300P (NATO: SA-10 Grumble) systems and replace them with S-400 complexes.(1)

 

By the late 1990s, it was widely acknowledged that Russia had fallen behind the U.S. in missile defense. Not wanting to let its technology and expertise go to waste, Moscow decided to build a new air-defense missile system, one that would surpass even the U.S. Patriot. According to Vladimir Simonov, General Director of the Russian Agency for Control Systems, the main focus was on getting Russia’s lagging programs “back on their feet.”(2) From the beginning, the project was shrouded in secrecy: neither its purpose, nor its parameters, nor even its name were disclosed to the public, although speculation was rampant.(3)

 

In January 1999, the Russian Air Force formally announced that it had developed a new air defense system known as the S-400.(4) Designed by the Russian Almaz Central Design Bureau, the S-400 was a thoroughly modernized version of the older S-300P system, versions of which dated back to the late 1960s.(5) The S-400 was reportedly capable of destroying a wide range of targets, including tactical and strategic aircraft, radar observation and targeting planes, cruise missiles, and short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.(6) According to Aleksandr Lemanskiy, Director-General of Almaz, the new system had “no parallels.”(7)

 

Most of the excitement surrounding the S-400 announcement centered on its new long-range missile, which the Fakel Machine Building Design Bureau was still in the final stages of developing. According to the Russians, the new missile featured an advanced seeker head capable of tracking targets well beyond the horizon line. It had a range of up to 400 kilometers, giving it approximately 2.5 times the range of the S-300P and twice the range of the U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) system, thus making it the superior missile. Once operational, the Russians claimed, the new S-400 missile would be able to home in on short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, as well as reconnaissance aircraft, stealth bombers, and other high-flying, fast-moving targets.(8)

 

In addition to the new long-range missile, the Russians revealed that the S-400 would be armed with lightweight 9M96 missiles to counter low-flying targets. Each 9M96 interceptor would have a range of approximately 120 kilometers and feature a gas-dynamic control system that would allow it to perform intricate low-altitude maneuvers. The Russians claimed that, in order to hasten the S-400’s deployment, the 9M96 interceptors would be made compatible with the existing S-300P launchers. Thus, a standard S-300P launcher originally designed to carry four 5V55 or 48N6 missiles would now be used to transport up to 16 9M96 missiles. In addition, the S-400 would use the S-300P control complex and multifunctional radar, thus allowing for a smooth, cost-efficient transition between the two systems.(9)

 

In February 1999, initial tests of the S-400 began at the Kapustin Yar site in Astrakhan.(10) Reports indicate that these tests were largely successful. In early 2001, Moscow announced that the S-400 would be deployed that year by the Russian military, and would also be made available for export on the world arms market.(11) Shortly thereafter, however, the S-400 program began to encounter a series of financial difficulties and technical problems that caused it to fall behind schedule, a trend that continued over the next two years.(12)

 

In mid-2003, after numerous delays and considerable bureaucratic infighting, it began to look as if the S-400 was nearing completion. That August, however, two high-ranking Russian military officials, Colonel General Alexei Moskovsky, Chief of the Armament Department of the Armed Forces, and General Anatoly Kvashnin, Chief of the General Staff, expressed their concerns that the S-400 was being tested using “obsolete” interceptors from the S-300P (such as the 48N6 missile). They concluded that the system was still not yet ready for production.(13) Moscow once again decided to delay the S-400’s scheduled deployment, this time until 2005 or 2006.(14)

 

In February 2004, the Russian Air Force announced that state tests of the S-400 had been completed and that the system was finally ready for production.(15) Two months later, Interfax-Military News Agency reported that an upgraded 48N6DM long-range interceptor had successfully destroyed a test ballistic missile. An Almaz-Antey official stated that “the system launched the upgraded 48N6DM long-range missile. The missile was guided to the target with precision, while the tasks set have been fulfilled.”(16) Despite these recent successes, it remains unclear when the S-400 will begin mass production.

 

Nevertheless, Moscow has been aggressively marketing the S-400 throughout Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Many believe that China will be Russia’s main customer. Between 2003 and 2004, China spent approximately $500 million on future S-400 systems, which accounts for the 7 percent increase in China’s foreign weapons acquisitions during that period.(17) In addition to China, Russia has offered the S-400 to the United Arab Emirates, once in 2002 and again in 2004.(18) There is also speculation that Iran, a potential nuclear power, is currently seeking to acquire its own batch of S-400 missiles.(19)

 

It is evident that, once the S-400 completes its final tests and enters production, it will quickly become one of the most sought after missile defense systems in the world.

 

 

 

 

Footnotes

 

1. “Russia Completes Preliminary Development Of Air Defence Launcher,” BBC Monitoring, 13 December 2001; Anatoly Yurkin, “Russia Air Defence Missile System Unmatched In The World,” ITAR-TASS, 14 April 2002; “Russia Ready To Mass-Produce Triumph Surface-to-Air Missile Complex,” RIA Novosty, 18 February 2004.
2. “Russia Moves To Upgrade Missile Defence System This Year,” Izvestiya, 9 Apr 2002.
3. “Russia’s Missile ‘Triumph,’” Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 5 February 1999, p. 2.
4. “New Russian ‘Triumf’ SAM Nearly Ready For Domestic Use, Export,” Aerospace Daily, 12 February 1999.
5. Hal Gershanoff, “Russia Claims New SAM System Defeats Stealth,” Journal of Electronic Defense, 1 June 1999; “Russia Trumpets New S-400 Missile System,” BBC Monitoring, 23 March 2001.
6. “Russia Trumpets New S-400 Missile System,” BBC Monitoring, 23 March 2001; Russia About To Complete Designing, Testing Of Unique Missile System,” ITAR-TASS, 27 June 2001.
7. “Russia About To Complete Designing, Testing Of Unique Missile System,” ITAR-TASS, 27 June 2001.
8. “Russia Trumpets New S-400 Missile System,” BBC Monitoring, 23 March 2001; Russia About To Complete Designing, Testing Of Unique Missile System,” ITAR-TASS, 27 June 2001; Federation of American Scientists.
9. “Russia Completes Preliminary Development Of Air Defence Launcher,” BBC Monitoring, 13 December 2001; Federation of American Scientists.
10. “Russia: Tests of the S-400 Triumf Missile Complex Were Held at the Kapustin Yar Site in Astrakhan Region,” Izvestiya, 18 May 1999; “Russia Trumpets New S-400 Missile System,” BBC Monitoring, 23 March 2001.
11. “Russia: New S-400 Air Defense System Coming Soon,” Periscope Daily Defense News Capsules, 4 April 2001; “Russia Trumpets New S-400 Missile System,” BBC Monitoring, 23 March 2001. 
12. “Russia Completes Preliminary Development Of Air Defence Launcher,” BBC Monitoring, 13 December 2001; “Russia Finally Begins Production of S-400,” Forecast International Press Releases, 21 October 2003.
13. Valery Baberdin, “The Defense Ministry Cannot Launch Serial Production of the S-400 Anti-Aircraft Complex,” Russkii Kuryer, 20 August 2003, p. 2.
14. “Russia Delays S-400’s Service Entry,” Forecast International Press Releases, 31 December 2003. 
15. “Russia Accomplishes Tests of New Missile System,” RosBusinessConsulting, 18 February 2004.
16. Almaz had by then merged with the Antey Industrial Corporation, another Russian defense company. “Russian Triumf S-400 Intercept Test Successful,” Interfax-Military News Agency, 3 May 2004.
17. “China Spending More on Defense,” Forecast International Defense Intelligence Newsletters, 3 June 2004; Robert Wall, “Threat Assessment: Increasing Sophistication Seen in Chinese Military Might,” Aviation Week & Space Technology, 7 June 2004.
18. “Russia Markets New Versions of S-400 and SA-11 in Mideast,” Geostrategy-Direct, 27 May 2004.
19. “Iran Looks to Buy Russian S-400 System,” Geostrategy-Direct, 16 September 2003.

Moscow to Deploy S-400 in Northwest Russia

February 7, 2008 :: RIA-Novosti :: News

Lieutenant General Vladimir Sviridov announced Russia will replace S-300 air and missile defense systems with the advanced S-400 model to the country's northwest. The S-400 system can intercept and destroy airborne targets, including stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, up to 3,500 kilometers away at speeds up to 4.8 kilometers per second. The S-400 will comprise the backbone of Russia's theater air defense through 2020 or 2025. The S-400 systems will now defend the northwest of the country in addition to Moscow and various industrial zones in central Russia. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Russia, Russian Missile Defenses

» Missile system details for: S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)

Second Battery of S-400 Interceptors to be Deployed in Moscow in 2008

January 22, 2008 :: RIA-Novosti :: News

Colonel-General Yuri Solovyov, head of Russia’s Air Force Special Command, announced on January 21 that a second S-400 Triumf regiment would be deployed in the Moscow region “by the end of 2008.”  The first regiment was deployed after a successful test of the S-400 last year. 

 

The S-400 is designed to defend against ballistic and cruise missiles and stealth aircraft at a distance of up to 400 kilometers, said to be twice the range of the U.S. Patriot interceptor.  The Colonel-General added that he wanted to expand the S-400's capabilities to intercept targets at even higher altitudes.  "We already have new missiles for the S-400 anti-aircraft system. These are surface-to-air missiles. We also need high-altitude missiles that can destroy targets in near space," he said. The S-400 will constitute the backbone of Russia’s theater air and missile defenses until 2020 or 2025. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Russia, Russian Missile Defenses

» Missile system details for: S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)

Russia to Deploy S-400 Systems Around Moscow by August

July 25, 2007 :: RIA-Novosti :: News

Russia will deploy the first air- and missile-defense battalion of the new S-400 systems around Moscow on August 6, according to a Russian Air Force spokesman.  "A battalion equipped with S-400 Triumf air defense systems and a command post will be put on combat duty [around Moscow] August 6," Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky told a news conference July 24.  The S-400 Triumf is a new defense system developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau as an upgrade of the S-300 family.  The system is said to be effective against stealth aircraft and cruise and ballistic missiles at a range of up to 400 kilometers. Russia successfully conducted live firing tests of the S-400 complex at the Kapustin Yar firing range in the Astrakhan Region on July 12-13. (Article, Link) 

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» Missile system details for: S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)

Russia Set to Test First Serial S-400 SAM System Next Week

July 5, 2007 :: RIA-Novosti :: News

On July 5 Russia announced it will conduct the first tests of its new S-400 Triumf air defense complexes (NATO codename SA-21 Growler) during the week of July 9. The S-400 is designed to intercept and destroy airborne targets, including stealth aircraft, at a distance of up to 400 kilometers-more than twice the range of the S-300PMU-2 (NATO codename SA-10 Grumble). The S-400 will soon be put on combat duty near Moscow following the test, and eventually will replace the older S-300PMU-2s and defend critical administrative and political centers. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Russian Missile Defenses, Russia

» Missile system details for: S-400 (SA-20 Triumf), S-300P (SA-10 Grumble)

S-400 Moscow Deployment Postponed

June 12, 2007 :: RIA-Novosti :: News

The S-400 air and missile defense systems (SA-21 Growler) slated to be installed by July 1 will be postponed until later this summer, Colonel-General Alexander Zelin of Russia's Air Force said Tuesday in Moscow.  The S-400 Triumf is an upgrade of the S-300 class (NATO codename SA-10 Grumble), and is capable of destroying stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. Eventually all of the S-300 complexes will be replaced with the newer model. 

 

The first S-400s were to be deployed in Electrostal-town of Moscow Region on July 1, 2007. The intention is to annually have one or two new regiments equipped with S-400s so that the latter would soon replace S-300 systems in all air defense units protecting Moscow and central Russia. (Article, Link) 

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» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)

Russia to Equip S-400 with New Missiles

August 11, 2006 :: RIA-Novosti :: News

The Russian Air Force plans to equip its S-400 (SA-20 Triumf) surface-to-air missile systems with new interceptor missiles by the end of 2006, reports RIA-Novosti. In his announcement, Vladimir Mikhaylov, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, did not offer any information other than that “the missile is at the moment undergoing tests.” The S-400 is believed to have a range of up to 400 kilometers, giving it approximately 2.5 times the range of the S-300P and twice the range of the U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) system. Once operational, the S-400 will be able to target and destroy aircraft, cruise missiles, and short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. (Article, Link) 

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Jane’s M&R on S-400 Deployments

February 6, 2006 :: Jane's Information Group :: News

The Russian Air Force is training its first air-defense missile regiment on the new S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system, reports Jane’s Missiles and Rockets. The regiment is expected to become combat ready later in 2006 at a location near Moscow. Eventually, all 35 regiments will be equipped with the new system, which will be used to protect large population centers, as well as military and industrial complexes. The S-400 is Russia’s most advanced SAM system, capable of destroying aircraft, cruise missiles, and short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 400 kilometers. (Link) 

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» Missile system details for: S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)

Russian S-400 To Go Online at 35 Locations

January 17, 2006 :: RIA-Novosti :: News

Russian air defense regiments in the Moscow region will be equipped with S-400 surface-to-air missiles in 2006, reports RIA Novosti. Vladimir Mikhailov, commander of the Russian Air Force, added that all 35 air defense regiments will be re-equipped with the S-400 in the future. The S-400 (NATO designation SA-20 Triumf) is an advanced surface-to-air missile system designed to destroy aircraft, cruise missiles, and short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 400 kilometers (250 miles). (Article, Link) 

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» Missile system details for: S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)

Troops to Get S-400 Missiles in Early 2006

October 19, 2005 :: Interfax :: News

Interfax-Military news agency reports that Russian servicemen will have the new S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile interceptor system by early 2006, quoting a source in the Defense Ministry.

“Servicemen will take theoretical training in control over the system before the end of the year, while practical exercises will begin in the first quarter of 2006, when the S-400 enters the inventory,” the source said.

A regiment of the first corps of the Special-Purpose Command hosted a rally on Monday that marked the beginning of the retraining process. Personnel of the regiment will be trained by teachers of the Tver-based Konstantin Zhukov Air Defense Academy and defense industry experts, the source noted.

The rally was attended by Col-Gen Boris Cheltsov, air force chief of staff, and Col-Gen Yuriy Solovyev, commander of the Special-Purpose Command, as well as defense industry representatives.

 (Article, Link) 

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» Missile system details for: S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)

Plans for S-400 Testing in 2005

February 10, 2005 :: RIA-Novosti :: News

Later this year, Russian aircraft will participate for the first time in air defense exercises held jointly with other former Soviet republics. The tests will include the latest S-400 air and missile defense system, reports RIA Novosti, citing a press conference by Lieutenant General Aitech Bizhev, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force.
        Bizhev is quoted as saying that “We plan to conduct a command-and-staff training exercise at the Central Command Post in April 2005. During the exercise, we will deploy for the first time strategic aviation aircraft as test targets.” Armenia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Belarus are each said to have requested participation in the exercise, to take place in Kazakhstan, for the purpose of testing “the full range of capabilities of the S-400 air defense complex,” said Bizhev.
        Russia has recently announced its own plans to deploy the S-400 in its own territory in 2005. The joint tests of the system would seem to indicate plans to distribute the system on a much wider basis.  (Article, Link) 

» Feb. 9, 2004: Syria wants to acquire S-400

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» Missile system details for: S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)

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