MOSCOW. May 21 (Interfax-AVN) - The Triumf new-generation air defense missile designed by Almaz Research-and-Production Association may enter the inventory as soon as this year, a competent source in the Russian defense industry told Interfax- Military News Agency Wednesday.
"Successful termination of the firing state trials of the Triumf air defense missile is a good ground for the system to enter the inventory as soon as this year," he said.
He said in comment on Tuesday's live firing on a real aerial target at the Kapustin Yar testing ground that the firing had been successful, and it had again proved supreme combat performance of the missile.
"The aerial target cruising at an altitude of about 20km at a distance of about 200km was hit by the first missile," the source said.
Experts say the combat and technical performances of the Truimf air defense missile are superior to all its world counterparts, including the U.S. PAC-3 Patriot.
The Truimf, in addition, may also be part of a non-strategic missile defense system. A number of most important characteristics of the missile, such as the rate of fire, firing range, number of channels, number of targets engaged, etc. have been strongly enhanced.
A single Truimf crew can substitute for three S-300PMU1, thus raising the cost efficiency of the defense system.
The Truimf has been governmentally established to be the basic air defense missile system for all Russian Armed Forces.