IAF Completes Triumf Trials

By Editor 04-Nov-2017

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has completed the field evaluation trials of the formidable Russian400 Triumf air defence system. “The trials have been quite successful. They were conducted on two

separate occasions and the system performed satisfactorily,” said an official.

 

 The Defence Ministry will now start the process of negotiations on the contract with Rosoboronexport of Russia, which handles defence deals with foreign countries, including the price.

 

The missiles which are part of the system can shoot down fighter and surveillance aircraft,

cruise missiles and drones at the range of 400km over enemy airspace itself. Despite the high

price tag attached with the five S-400 systems India is planning to acquire, the IAF is keen to

get the weapon system as it will give the IAF an edge over Pakistan and help India match China,

which has already installed the system.

 

The missile system manufactured by Russia’s Almaz Antey consists of a set of radars, missile launchers and command posts and the radar of each system can track between 100 and300 targets simultaneously.

 

 With a tracking range of 600 km, the missile system can engage up to 36 targets at a time within a range of 400 km. The missile system gives India the capability to track all Pakistani air bases, while bringing the Chinese defence facilities in Tibet in its striking range.

 

An intergovernmental agreement on the sale of S-400 was signed in October 2016during the India-Russia summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The cost of the system was earlier speculated to be Rs. 54,000 crore.

 

However, the price may go down to Rs. 40,000 crore or even less after the negotiations are completed.

 

Triupf would be used by the IAF along with the other new air defence systems coming up in the country including the India-Israel joint venture Medium range-Surface to Air Missile system and the SPYDER systems that India recently acquired from Israel. India has also developed its own air short range air defence systems including Akash missiles while the Missile Complex of DRDO has also successfully tested the new Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile System.