MissileThreat.com

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.

Russian Air Defenses Said “Deplorable,” But Russian BMD Still in Good Shape

February 18, 2004 :: Gateway to Russia :: News

Former commander of the Russian Air Force Anatoly Kornukov declared that Russian defenses against air attack are “in deplorable condition,” and comparing their capabilities to those of several decades ago. He cited the S-50 air defense system as one example, whose effectiveness has been halved. But whatever the condition of Russian defenses against aircraft, however, Russia’s missile defense system is still in reasonably good shape.
        After denegrating the air defense systems, Kornukov immediately added that the whole situation “is not hopeless,” and went on to describe Russia’s missile defense system as operating effectively.
        Kornukov also spoke of the need for Russia to employ space: “Russia needs an inexpensive but reliable space defense system, capable of protecting it from air and space strikes,” and added that “Space defense should become a vital part of a system to deter possible aggression against Russia.” The Russian press reports that Kornukov goes on to describe Russia’s missile defense system as “capable of hitting orbital vehicles.”
        Kornukov specifically spoke of Russia’s newer S-400 air and missile defense system, which uses the Triumf interceptor, as having been tested successfully and was ready for serial production.
        The Triumf interceptor is reported to have a range of 400km, and is to be used against both ballistic and cruise missiles such as the American Tomahawk—as well as against early warning, tactical, and strategic aircraft. In terms of its ballistic missile defense capabilities, it is said to be able to intercept warheads traveling at a speed of 4,800 km per hour (1.3km/sec).  (Article, Link) 

» RBC News on Triumf capability

» Russia Journal on Triumf

» More stories on: Russian Missile Defenses

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

Russian Missile Defenses for Europe?

December 2, 2003 :: AFPC :: News

During years of complaining about American movements toward missile defense, Russia has both maintained a missile defense system stationed around Moscow and, in recent years, begun to sell its S-300 and S-400 systems to other countries. Quoting the Russian ITAR-Tass news agency from November 28, an AFPC summary notes that Russia may be attempting to sell its own missile defenses for the protection of Europe from Iranian and other rogue states. Specifically, Russian defense firms may offer the more advanced “Triumf” S-400 defense system to members of NATO. The Triumf is, in terms of capability, a rival to the U.S. PAC-2 and PAC-3 “Patriot” dual-use anti-aircraft and theatre missile defense systems. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Russia, Russian Missile Defenses, Technology

» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant), S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)

Iran Looks to Buy Russian S-400 System

September 16, 2003 :: Geostrategy-Direct :: News

Iran is looking to buy an air and missile defense system from Russia, perhaps the more advanced S-400, reports Geostrategy Direct. Russia previously offered a similar system for purchase by Abu Dhabi, in 2002. (subscription required) (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Russia, Russian Missile Defenses

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

Moscow Selects New Head of Russian Missile Defense Company

August 19, 2003 :: The Moscow Times :: News

Russian Prime Minsister has recommended that the missile defense company, Almaz-Antei, be headed up by Vladislav Menshchikov, from St. Petersburg. Menschicov is described as a “little known official” from Putin’s hometown, who has a “conspicous gap” in his resume, from 1982-1995.
        The Prime Minister’s recomendation is that the company’s board go through the formal motion of voting Menshchikov president of the company, which is 100% owned by the Russian government. Almaz is the result of last year’s decree by the Kremlin which ordered the consolidation of 46 companies which had formerly supplied MD technologies independently. Almaz produces the S-400 missile defense system deployed around Moscow, as well as the S-300 which Russia exports, and other air defense systems.
        The former head of Almaz, Klimov, was assassinated in June, a murder which remains unsolved. (Article, Link) 

» Janes: Almaz likely to showcase new S-400 MD system

» More stories on: Russia

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

Russian Trimf (S-400) Missile Defense Interceptor Testing Complete, Ready for Service

May 22, 2003 :: Pravda :: News

Pravda cites the RIA Novosti news service that the newer Russian missile defense interceptor, the Triumf or S-400, has completed state testing at the Kapustin Yar range, and is now ready for service. The Triumf is said to belong to a new generation of air and missile defense systems called “four plus.”
        As for the capabilities of the Triumf interceptor, “The tests have confirmed that the Triumf features a higher rate of fire, longer range and the greater number of engaged targets,” it was noted at the Almaz research and production center. Moreover,

“In its technical characteristics and specifications the system is superior to the modernised American Patriot anti-aircraft missile system. Russia’s Defence Ministry believes that as early as the end of this year the Triumf may be adopted for service with the country’s air-defence forces.”

         Almaz is the missile defense company which also produces teh S-300 air/missile defense system which Russia exports. Almaz is 100% owned by the Russian government, after a 2002 decree seized control of the company.
        The report comes in addition to earlier reports, however, suggesting that the S-400 has already been deployed. (Article, Link) 

» Aug. 19, 2003: Russia selects new head of BMD company, Almaz

» S-400 showcased in August 2003

» More stories on: Russian Missile Defenses

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

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