Baltic Fleet getting Triumph SAM systems – source

03.08.2011 Baltic Fleet (BF) has begun to receive new surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems S-400 Triumph, reports RIA Novosti on Aug 2 referring to a high-ranking representative of Baltic Fleet HQ.

Consequently, he confirmed media reports that BF would obtain two S-400 battalions till the current year is over. "First trains carrying missile systems are presently arriving at Baltic Fleet", said the interviewee.

According to him, servicemen of the fleet's air defense units will master the new systems at Ashuluk test range in Astrakhan region. So far, only one Triumph-armed air defense regiment has been deployed in Elektrostal, Moscow region. The second regiment will also take duties near Moscow in the closest time. The third one is to be deployed in Moscow region in the current year.

SAM system S-400 is designed to destroy all types of aerial assets, i.e. aircrafts, UAVs, and cruise missiles. The system is capable to operate not only in aerial domain but in near space, as well as perform non-strategic missile defense tasks.

Regarding engagement of aerial targets, S-400 Triumph is as effective as three S-300 systems. Triumph is designed to replace preceding S-300 and S-200 SAM systems and has advanced kill effectiveness against such new types of targets as stealth aircrafts, small-size cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles with operating range up to 3,500 km and flight speed up to 4.8 km per second.

With its unique performance characteristics, Triumph system has no analogs worldwide. It is capable to track 300 targets simultaneously and fire at 36 of them.

SAM system S-400 Triumph was commissioned in the spring of 2007.