'Almaz' Prepares 'Triumf':
New Generation of Anti-Aircraft Missile System Created in Russia
New 'Triumf' Air Defense System Noted Moscow Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye 5-11 Feb 99 No 4 p 1 by Andrey Viktorovich Fomin, editor in chief of the Russian-English journal Air Fleet
The completion of comprehensive testing of a new generation of anti-aircraft missile system (ZRS) for air defense, named Triumf, should be an important event in the military sphere in 1999. The new ZRS was created at the Moscow Central Design Bureau Almaz (general director--Nikolay Polyashev, general designer--Aleksandr Lemanskiy). It was first officially announced on 11 January 1999 during a news conference devoted to the results of the reform of Russia's Air Force. The Air Force commander in chief, Lieutenant General Aviation Anatoliy Kornukov, reported that a new standardized anti-aircraft missile system for air defense could reach the troops by the end of the year. And one of the ZURs [anti-aircraft missiles] could serve as a basis for creating a standardized missile for application both on ship ZURs and on fighter aircraft. The Triumf SAM system is the system of the next, fourth, generation, constructed on a new element base involving unique technical solutions. At the same time its development provides for the greatest possible continuity with systems of the S-300PMU family (PMU1, PMU2). This, in the opinion of Triumf's creators, will make it possible to "break down" existing production and smoothly change over to the production of the new generation of SAM systems. The structure of the surface-to-air missile system will be retained: It will include the previous complex of means of control (but it will support the functioning of not six but eight SAM systems), multifunctional radar stations for illumination and navigation, launchers, and attached autonomous means of detection and target indication. Triumf will be able to use both the new air defense missiles being developed at the present time by the MKB [Machinebuilding Design Bureau] Fakel (general designer--Vladimir Svetlov) and the existing missiles of the systems S-300PMU1 and S- 300PMU2. One of them--the 9M96Ye--was shown for the first time at an exhibition in Greece in the fall of 1998. The missile is small-- considerably lighter than the ZUR 48N6Ye, which is used in S-300PMU1 systems and the Favorit. From all appearances, this is the one the Air Force commander in chief had in mind when speaking of a standardized missile for air defense SAM systems, ship-launched air defense missile systems, and fighter aircraft. Incidentally, the ZUR 9M96Ye is intended for use with complexes of the S-300PMU family as well. Then the standard launcher, intended for four 48N6Ye missiles, can accommodate up to 16 9M96Ye missiles. The version of the S-300PMU2 that includes it was demonstrated at the exhibition in Greece.
In the standardized Triumf system it is intended to use several types of ZURs that have varying starting mass and flight distance. Because of this it will be possible to create separated defense and also to expand the size of the striking zone of the SAM system. The maximum distance for hitting targets will approximately double and the upper limit of the striking zone will increase. The Triumf's new software and the latest computer equipment will make it possible to considerably increase the effectiveness of the combat application of the system as compared to the second and third generations of SAM systems. Triumf will be integrated into Air Force surface-to-air missile units with SAM systems of the S-300PMU family. The new system will be used in other branches of the Armed Forces as well.
In the near future Triumf will be offered to potential foreign clients: The TsKB [Central Design Bureau] Almaz has received permission from the Russian Federation Government to place the new development on the international arms market.
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