• Background
  • 48N6E3 and 40N6 Surface to Air Missiles
  • 9M96E and 9M96E2 Surface to Air Missiles
  • S-400 and Legacy Surface to Air Missile System Hybridisation
  • Production and Exports, Further Development
• S-400 Technical Data
• S-400 Battery Components
  • Almaz 5P90SE Self Propelled Transporter Erector Launcher
  • Almaz 5P90TMU Towed Transporter Erector Launcher
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  • Almaz 5P85TE2 Towed Transporter Erector Launcher
  • Almaz 22T6-2/22T6E2 Transloader
  • Almaz 55K6E Command Post
  • Almaz 92N2E Grave Stone Engagement Radar
  • NIIIP 91N6E Big Bird Acquisition Radar
  • LEMZ 96L6 Cheese Board Acquisition Radar
  • Almaz 1T12 Site Survey Vehicle

Background

The Almaz S-400 Triumf or SA-21 system is the most recent evolution of the S-300P family of SAM systems, initially trialled in 1999. The label S-400 is essentially marketing, since the system was previously reported under the speculative label of S-300PMU3. At least one report claims that funding for the development of the Triumf was provided in part by the PLA. The principal distinctions between the S-400 and its predecessor lie in further refinements to the radar and software, and the addition of four new missile types in addition to the legacy 48N6E/48N6E2 used in the S-300PMU2 Favorit.

A 2008 diagram published by Almaz-Antey showing the composition of an S-400 battery. Notable points include the integration of external low band NNIIRT Protivnik GE and VNIIRT Gamma DE L-band radars, and a range of passive emitter locating systems. All have the angular accuracy to provide midcourse guidance updates for missile shots.

As a result an S-400 battery could be armed with arbitrary mixes of these weapons to optimise its capability for a specific threat environment. The 30N6E2 further evolved into the more capable 92N2E Grave Stone, carried by a new 8 x 8 MZKT-7930 vehicle. The additional range required a significantly uprated transmitter tube to provide the higher power-aperture performance needed, in additional to an improved exciter and automatic frequency hopping capability. The 96L6 Cheese Board is offered as an 'all altitude' battery acquisition radar, also carried by a 8 x 8 MZKT-7930 vehicle. A new 3D phased array acquisition radar is employed, the 91N6E derived from the 64N6E2, and the 40V6M/MD mast is an available option. The 55K6E command post is employed, carried by an 8 x 8 Ural 532301 truck.

Optional acquisition radars cited for the S-400 include the 59N6 Protivnik GE and 67N6 Gamma DE in the L-band, but also the 1L119 Nebo SVU in the VHF band, and the multiband Nebo M. The Nebo SVU/M have a claimed capability against stealth aircraft. In addition to further acquisition radar types, the S-400 has been trialled with the Topaz Kolchuga M, KRTP-91 Tamara / Trash Can, and 85V6 Orion / Vega emitter locating systems, the aim being to engage  emitting targets without emitting from the acquisition radars, or if the acquisition radars have been jammed. In June, 2008, the manufacturer disclosed the integration of the 1RL220VE, 1L222 and 86V6 Orion emitter locating systems with the S-400.

48N6E3 and 40N6 Surface to Air Missiles

The first missile added to the system is the 48N6E3/48N6DM (Dal'naya - long range), an incrementally improved 48N6E2 variant with a range of 130 nautical miles.

The second missile added to the S-400 is the new 40N6, a long range weapon with a cited range of 215 nautical miles, intended to kill AWACS, JSTARS and other high value assets, such as EA-6B/EA-18G support jammers. Further details of this weapon remain to be disclosed. The range improvement to around twice that of the 48N6E2 suggests a two stage weapon, or a much larger motor casing with a larger propellant load.

S-400 48N6E2/E3 SAM specifications.

Extended range missile shots typically involve ballistic flight profiles with apogees in excess of 40 km. The protracted development of the 40N6 suggests that directional control through the upper portions of the flight profile may have presented difficulties. One advantage of such flight profiles is that the missile converts potential energy into kinetic energy during the terminal phase of its flight, accelerating as it dives on its target. This provides higher endgame G capability in comparison with flatter cruise profiles used in legacy designs.

9M96E and 9M96E2 Surface to Air Missiles

The third and fourth missiles are in effect equivalents to the ERINT/PAC-3 interceptor missile recently introduced to supplement the MIM-104 in Patriot batteries. These are the 9M96E and 9M96E2, largely identical with the latter version fitted with a larger booster. Fakel claim the 96M6E has a range of 21.6 nautical miles, and the 9M96E2 64.8 nautical miles, with altitude capabilities from 15 ft AGL up to 66 kft and 100 kft respectively.

The 9M96 missiles are hittiles designed for direct impact, and use canards and thrust vectoring to achieve extremely high G and angular rate capability - they are not unlike a scaled up R-73/AA-11 Archer dogfight missile in concept. An inertial package is used with a datalink from the 30N6E radar for midcourse guidance, with a radar homing seeker of an undisclosed type. The small 53 lb (24 kg) blast fragmentation warhead is designed to produce an controlled fragment pattern, using multiple initiators to shape the detonation wave through the explosive. A smart radio fuse is used to control the warhead timing and pattern. It is in effect a steerable shaped charge.

Some sources have credited the 9M96E/9M96E2 missiles to the S-300PMU1 and S-300PMU2 Favorit, which appears to have been the demonstration platform for prototypes of these missiles. Integration of these missiles on either of these systems will not present any challenges. To date there have been no disclosures on domestic production or export sales of the 9M96 series.

S-400 5P85SE demonstrator TEL with quad 9M96E launch tubes (image © Miroslav Gyűrösi).

S-400 and Legacy Surface to Air Missile System Hybridisation

Some sources also credit the S-400 with the capability first demonstrated in the S-300PMU2 Favorit, of controlling S-200/SA-5 Gammon batteries and directing the 5N62VE Square Pair FMCW guidance and illumination radar. Given that the Russian S-200 inventory and missile warstock has been decommissioned and exported, if this capability is retained, it is for export clientele.

If software and datalink modems are supplied in production S-400 systems to support the S-200 / SA-5, this raises the question of potential hybridisation with other legacy SAM types. With most potential export clientele already operating legacy SAM systems such as the S-75M/SA-2 Guideline, S-125/SA-3 Goa and 3M9/9M9/SA-6 Gainful, this could prove to be an attractive marketing tool. The model claimed for the S-200/SA-5 would likely be applied, using the SNR-75 Fan Song, SNR-125 Low Blow or 1S91 Straight Flush to guide the missiles to an aimpoint produced by the 92N6E Grave Stone tracking the target, and in the latter instance, provide terminal phase illumination. The key issue of reconciling location errors between the various system components can be addressed by satellite navigation, with dual mode GPS/Glonass receivers already widely used in Russian equipment.

Production and Exports, Further Development

The first S-400 battery achieved IOC status during the 2007-2008 period, and further batteries were being delivered to Russian PVO units since. Russian media reports indicate delays in delivery against initially planned schedules, which is not unusual for new designs.

The S-400 is being actively marketed for export. The first export client for the S-400 will be Belarus, with reports emerging early in 2009 that a delivery of multiple batteries had been negotiated.

Recently claims have emerged in Russia of a follow-on derivative of the S-400 Triumf, designated the 40N6M Triumfator M, including claims that the 5P90S and 5P90TMU TELs would be used. To date there have been no formal disclosures detailing this variant.

S-400 Technical Data

S-400 Battery Components

Almaz 5P90SE Self Propelled Transporter Erector Launcher

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BAZ-6909-015 8 x 8 all terrain vehicle. This design is believed to be the likely chassis for the new 5P90S self propelled TEL.

Almaz 5P90TMU Towed Transporter Erector Launcher

Almaz 5P85TE2 Towed Transporter Erector Launcher

The 5P85TE2 TEL towed by a 6 x 6 BAZ-64022 [1], [2] tractor is a distinctive feature of the S-400, making it readily identifiable in comparison with the KrAZ-260 towed 5P85TE variants used with the SA-20 Gargoyle (Almaz-Antey/Vestnik PVO).

Almaz 22T6-2/22T6E2 Transloader

Almaz 55K6E Command Post

55K6E CP carried by an 8 x 8 Ural 532301 (above) truck, and operator consoles (below) in van  (Almaz-Antey).

NIIIP 91N6E Big Bird Acquisition Radar

LEMZ 96L6 Cheese Board Acquisition Radar