During the current
MAKS-2011 air-show, there were an important development about the future of Russian SAM systems...
The Almaz design bureau, responsible for the current [S-300PT/PS/PMU (SA-10), S-300PM/PMU1/PMU2 (SA-20), S-400 (SA-21)] systems, took over the Antey design bureau, responsible for the [S-300V (SA-12), S-300VM (SA-23)].
The name of the new design bureau is Almaz-Antey.
The Almaz OKB, historically responsible for the S-25/S-75/S-125/S-200/S-300P/S-400 (SA-1/2/3/5/10/20/21) designs, managed the end of the Cold War in better (financial) shape.
The export successes (China, Cyprus, Vietnam, Algeria) of the S-300PMU1/PMU2 (SA-20) design, and the ongoing S-400 (SA-21) fielding in Russia created a solid financial background.
Meanwhile the Antej S-300V/VM (SA-12/23) systems lack of export, and the shrinking Russian army's lack of cash, leaded the bureau towards bankruptcy.
So the
NEXT BIG THING the
S-500 (S-400M) Triumph-M system will merge the four-hundred system capabilities (250km range against aerial targets), with the Antej pearls, its ABM capabilities (40km range against MRBMs [2500km medium range ballistic missiles]).
S-400 Triumph (SA-21) launcher
9M82 ABM missile of the Antej's S-300VM (SA-23) system
S-500 (S-400M) Triumph-M launcher with the Antey's ABM missile.