Air Defense

S-400 Triumf

Also known as
  • SA-21 Growler
  • S-400
  • S-400 Triumph
  • 40R6
  • 40R6 Triumf
  • Triumf
  • Triumph

The S-400 Triumf, NATO reporting name SA-21 Growler, is a Russian road-mobile long-range air defense system built around networked command, search radar, engagement radar, and transporter-erector-launchers. It uses multiple interceptor families for layered engagements against aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, and selected ballistic missile threats, and Russian S-400 batteries in occupied Crimea have been recurring targets in Ukraine's campaign against Russian air defenses.

S-400 Triumf, Long-range mobile surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense
Image source: File:S-400 Triumf launch vehicle.JPG

Role in Conflicts

2025 India-Pakistan Conflict
Side
India
Role in conflict
Long-range air and missile defense

India's air force chief said Indian S-400 air defense systems took down most of the Pakistani aircraft claimed during the May 2025 fighting; Pakistan rejected the claim.

Conflict-Use Limits

The conflict rows distinguish documented fielding, deployment, reported losses, and attributed combat claims. Ukraine and Syria sourcing documents Russian S-400 deployments and losses or coverage roles; the India-Pakistan row is based on India's air force chief attributing claimed May 2025 aircraft losses to S-400 systems, with Pakistan rejecting the claim.

ConflictWhat is directly sourcedSourcing limit
2014 Russia-Ukraine WarRussian S-400 batteries in occupied Crimea and a Ukrainian claim of destroying one such system in August 2023.The compact row supports fielding and loss reporting, not a complete engagement log.
2011 Syrian Civil WarRussian S-400 deployment to Latakia after the Turkish shootdown of a Russian Su-24.RUSI frames the system as a deterrent and air-denial asset; it does not document routine S-400 missile firings in Syria.
2025 India-Pakistan ConflictIndia's air force chief credited S-400 systems with most of the aircraft claimed shot down during May 2025 fighting.Pakistan rejected the claim, so the row is attributed rather than treated as an independently verified kill record.
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Russia
Built by
Almaz-Antey
Type
Long-range mobile surface-to-air missile system
Service note
Entered Russian service in 2007; used in the 2022 full-scale 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Designer
Almaz Central Design Bureau
Designed
Development began in the 1990s
Unit cost
Not publicly standardized; battery-level export packages vary by customer and configuration
Produced
2000s-present
Number built
Not publicly confirmed
Developed from
S-300P family technology and launcher/radar architecture

Specifications

NATO reporting name
SA-21 Growler
System components
55K6E combat control post, 91N6E radar system, 92N6E multifunctional radar, 51P6E/5P85-series launchers, and 96L6E2 all-altitude detector in Rosoboronexport's export description
Missile families
48N6-series, 40N6 long-range family, and 9M96-family interceptors are described in open-source S-400 missile-loadout summaries
Engagement range
Up to 380 km against aerodynamic targets; up to 60 km against ballistic targets in Rosoboronexport figures
Engagement altitude
0.01-30 km against aerodynamic targets; 2-25 km against ballistic targets
Target speed
Up to 4,800 m/s
Battery launchers
Up to 12 launchers in one air defense missile system configuration
Targets engaged
One division can fire on up to 10 targets with up to 20 guided missiles; a full ADMS set is advertised at up to 80 targets and 160 guided missiles
Warhead example
CSIS lists a 143 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead for the 48N6 missile family
System Architecture

The S-400 is documented as an integrated air-defense system rather than a single launcher vehicle. Its export description separates command, search, engagement, launch, and all-altitude detection elements, while CSIS describes the missile families that give the system layered reach.

ElementRoleDocumented context
55K6E combat control postCommand and controlProcesses radar information, distributes targets, issues target designations, and links the S-400 with neighboring control systems.
91N6E radar systemSearch and trackingDetects and tracks aerodynamic and ballistic targets and passes radar information to the command post.
92N6E multifunctional radarEngagement radarHandles target acquisition, tracking, launch preparation, missile guidance, and automatic exchange with the 30K6E control system.
51P6E / 5P85-series launchersReady missilesRosoboronexport lists up to 12 launchers in one S-400 air-defense missile system configuration.
96L6E2 all-altitude detectorAdditional air-picture sensorSelects priority targets and feeds air-situation information to the 92N6E multifunctional radar.
48N6, 40N6, and 9M96 familiesInterceptor mixOpen-source descriptions associate S-400 with long-range and shorter-range missile families, with the 40N6 family extending the advertised outer range and 9M96-family missiles providing shorter-range point-defense options.

Source references: S-400 "Triumph"; S-400 Triumf; Russia Announces Sale of S-400 to China.

Timeline

S-400 Triumf Key Events

  1. Chinese export sale reported

    CSIS reported Russian approval in principle for an S-400 sale to China, framing China as the first expected foreign customer for the system.

    Sources: Russia Announces Sale of S-400 to China

  2. Su-24 shootdown prompts Syria deployment

    RUSI describes Russia deploying S-400 to Latakia air base after Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 near the Syrian border in November 2015.

    Sources: Russia's Air Defence Challenge in Syria

  3. Crimea system reported destroyed

    Associated Press reported Ukraine's claim that it destroyed a Russian S-400 missile-defense system in occupied Crimea.

    Sources: Russia and Ukraine trade drone attacks as Kyiv claims it took out a key S-400 missile defense system

  4. India credits S-400 in May fighting

    Al Jazeera reported India's air force chief saying S-400 systems took down most Pakistani aircraft claimed in the May 2025 fighting, while Pakistan rejected the claim.

    Sources: India says six Pakistani aircraft shot down during May conflict

Media

S-400 Triumf Videos

S-400 Triumf Images

S-400 Triumf, Long-range mobile surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense - view 1
Source: File:Russian S-400 Triumf missile launcher.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
55K6A command post, Mobile S-400 air-defense command post, Air DefenseAir Defense55K6A command postMobile S-400 air-defense command postThe 55K6A is the Russian-service command-post component associated with the S-400 Triumf air-defense system. Open export literature describes the closely related 55K6E combat control post as the node that processes radar information, distributes targets, issues target designations, and links S-400 batteries with higher or neighboring command systems. In Ukraine, open-source loss trackers identify Russian 55K6A command posts destroyed during the full-scale war, making the component useful as a separately tracked command-and-control target rather than only as part of the broader S-400 launcher family.
92N6A engagement radar, Mobile engagement and missile-guidance radar, Air DefenseAir Defense92N6A engagement radarMobile engagement and missile-guidance radarThe 92N6A is a Russian 92N6-family engagement radar associated with the S-400 Triumf air-defense system. Public sources describe the 92N6/92N6E Grave Stone as the multifunction radar that acquires and tracks targets, prepares launches, guides missiles, and exchanges fire-control data with the S-400 command system; conflict rows are limited to sources that directly name the 92N6 or 92N6E family rather than generic S-400 deployments.
5P85SM2-01 TEL, S-400 self-propelled transporter-erector-launcher, Air DefenseAir Defense5P85SM2-01 TELS-400 self-propelled transporter-erector-launcherThe 5P85SM2-01 is a self-propelled transporter-erector-launcher associated with Russia's S-400 Triumf long-range air-defense system. It carries four launch canisters on a MAZ-543M-family heavy wheeled chassis and depends on the S-400 battery's command post, search radars, and 92N6E engagement radar for target data and missile guidance. Visual-loss tracking has separately documented Russian 5P85SM2-01 launchers in Ukraine, making the TEL identifiable beyond generic S-400 system references.
SAMP/T, Mobile long-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseAir DefenseSAMP/TMobile long-range surface-to-air missile systemSAMP/T, known as MAMBA in French service, is a Franco-Italian truck-mounted air and missile defense system built around Aster interceptors, multifunction radar, engagement command modules, and road-mobile vertical launchers. Ukraine uses SAMP/T batteries for scarce long-range air defense against Russian aircraft, missiles, and drones, while the SAMP/T NG path adds newer radar, Aster 30 Block 1NT, and a multi-layer configuration integrating VL MICA.
9A317M TELAR, Tracked Buk-M3 transporter erector launcher and radar, Air DefenseAir Defense9A317M TELARTracked Buk-M3 transporter erector launcher and radarThe 9A317M TELAR is the autonomous tracked firing vehicle for Russia's 9K317M Buk-M3 medium-range surface-to-air missile system. Open technical sources describe it as a six-canister, radar-equipped self-propelled firing unit able to receive target designation, track targets, prepare missile flight tasks, illuminate targets, and launch 9M317M-family missiles; Ukraine-war reporting and loss documentation identify Russian 9A317M TELARs and Buk-M3 launchers as battlefield air-defense targets.

Sources

S-400 "Triumph"Publisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Official export product page supporting system role, component descriptions, launcher count, engagement range, altitude, target speed, and simultaneous engagement figures. | Accessed: 2026-06-30S-400 TriumfPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies Missile Threat | Note: Supports general background, Russian origin, SA-21 Growler reporting name, development start, 2007 service entry, road-mobile SAM role, S-300 inheritance, missile families, and broad capability context. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Russia Announces Sale of S-400 to ChinaPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports Almaz-Antey manufacturer attribution, S-400 derivative relationship to S-300, export context, and additional background on S-400 battalion components, missile families, mobility, and capabilities. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Russia and Ukraine trade drone attacks as Kyiv claims it took out a key S-400 missile defense systemPublisher: Associated Press | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict use: S-400 fielded by Russian forces in occupied Crimea and reported destroyed by Ukrainian military intelligence. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Russia's Air Defence Challenge in SyriaPublisher: Royal United Services Institute | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War direct conflict use: S-400 fielded by Russia at Latakia air base after the Turkish shootdown of a Russian Su-24. | Accessed: 2026-06-30India says six Pakistani aircraft shot down during May conflictPublisher: Al Jazeera | Note: Supports 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict direct conflict use: S-400 used by India according to India's air force chief, while Pakistan rejected the claim. | Accessed: 2026-06-30File:S-400 Triumf launch vehicle.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and license page for the primary S-400 launch vehicle image, published under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-30File:Russian S-400 Triumf missile launcher.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and license page for the gallery S-400 launcher image, reviewed on Commons as Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-30