S400

The S-400 Triumf, also known by its NATO reporting name SA-21 Gargoyle, is a Russian long-range air defense missile system developed by Almaz-Antey. It was designed as an advanced successor to the S-300 family and entered service with the Russian armed forces in the late 2000s. The system is marketed as capable of engaging a wide range of aerial threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, at varying ranges.

The S-400 employs a family of missiles with different performance envelopes, enabling engagements at long, medium, and short ranges. The exact range capabilities depend on the missile variant, with longer-range missiles intended for distant intercepts. The system is designed to track multiple targets simultaneously and to assign appropriate missiles to threats in a networked, layered defense. It is capable of operating in all weather conditions and integrates with other air defense assets to form a cohesive air defense umbrella.

Key components of the S-400 include mobile, truck-mounted launchers, a command-and-control vehicle, and radar elements that provide target acquisition, tracking, and engagement coordination. The arrangement supports rapid redeployment and flexibility in defending strategic locations or dispersed assets.

Development and export: The S-400 represents an evolution from the S-300 family and has been marketed as offering higher precision and broader engagement capabilities. It has been exported to several countries, notably India and Turkey, drawing attention in international security and policy circles. Turkey’s use of the system led to sanctions discussions in some Western capitals under CAATSA.

The S-400 is part of a broader Russian air defense architecture and is associated with subsequent developments such as the S-500.