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The S-400, 48N6DM

The phrase 'S-400' or 'S400' can also refer to the Canon PowerShot S400 digital camera, or a kind of Mercedes-Benz car.

The S-400 Triumf (Russian: C-400 «Триумф»; English: triumph) is a new generation of anti-aircraft/anti-missile weapon system complex 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 2 times greater than that of the MIM-104 Patriot system.^[1][2]

Russian sources have claimed the S-400 is capable of detecting and destroying targets out to a range of 400km (250 miles), such as aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, including those with a range of 3,500 km and a speed of 3 miles per second and stealth aircraft.^{[3] [4][5]}

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.

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.^[6]

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.

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 phased out.

The S-500 „Самодержец” is described as an upgraded version of the S-400 SA-21 Triumf, which is estimated to be capable of engaging target missiles with ranges of up to 3,500 kilometers.

On 21st 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 6th 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]

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.^[10] Perhaps the biggest impact for in particular the United States is nations like Iran expressing interest in the system.^[4] Vice Chairman of Russia's State Duma Vladimir Zhirinovsky has urged the fast delivery of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran. ^[11]

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

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.^[13]

• The S-400 is intended to intercept and destroy airborne targets at a distance of up to 400 km (250 miles).^[2]
• 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.^[14][15]
• Detection ranges of 500-600km have been theorized for future radars.^[2]

• 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