Russia is carrying out initial manufacturer's tests of the prototype S-400 Triumph air defence missile system at the Kapustin Yar missile range in Astrakhan. It will introduce the system into service later this year.
Triumph, designed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau, will be offered for export as well as domestic use, the report says. Essentially an advanced derivative of the Almaz S-300PMU, Triumph will use a variety of missiles to create a multi-layer defence. Both S-300 and S-400 systems use a central command and control vehicle with multifunctional radar, but Triumph has eight launchers instead of S-300's six.
Though the missile launched in the first tests is an existingS-300PMU-1 weapon, two new missiles for the S-400 are under development by Fakel design bureau. The medium-range 9M96 will have a launch range of over 120km, be equipped with an active radar seeker and is claimed to have 0.9 kill probability against piloted aircraft and 0.8 against manoeuvering unmanned targets.
The missile is intended to hit targets flying as low as 5m.A gas dynamic flight control system allows it to manoeuver with 20g load factor at altitudes up to 115,000ft (35,000m), providing an anti-ballistic missile capability against warheads with trajectory speed up to 4.8km/s.
The 9M96 container-launcher can be installed on the existing S-300PMU family chassis instead of the standard containers with 5B55 or 48N6 missiles. The Russian air force says the 9M96 modification will provide the basis for the next-generation long-range air-to-air missile system.
Another larger missile for theS-400 system whose designation is still classified will have a launch range of up to 400km and will have the over-the-horizon capability. Its radar seeker has both semi-active and active radar guidance modes. The missile is optimised fo engaging AWACS and electronic warfare aircraft.
Source: Flight International