SA-21 Growler
Long-range / strategic SAM — backbone of the IADS
Strategic long-range SAM system; long the outer shell of the Russian A2/AD bubble (now with the S-500 above it). Combines several missile types (from the very-long-range 40N6 to the agile short-range 9M96) on one fire unit. Threatens AWACS, tankers and C2 platforms at great distance. In Ukraine several S-400 components (launchers, 92N6 radars) were destroyed with ATACMS and drones, mainly in Crimea and Kursk/Belgorod — proof that even the top layer is vulnerable. Since 2026 Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR/DIU) also reports that Russia has converted ≥17 S-400 launchers to fire a 48N6 derivative (RM-48U) in a surface-to-surface role against Ukrainian cities — conserving scarcer Iskander-M rounds but diverting hardware from the air-defence mission (not independently confirmed).
Dimensionsfor imagery analysis
- Launcher
- 5P85-series TEL on MAZ-543M 8x8; chassis ≈ 11.7 × 3.07 × 2.92 m (WEG, MAZ-543 family) — S-400-specific figure not found
- Missile (weight)
- 48N6-series: ≈ 2,000 kg, 2,800 kg in canister
- Antenna / mast
- 92N6 engagement radar: antenna ≈ 4 × 2 m (single database source, uncertain)
- Dimension source
- WEG (ODIN); ArmsNet database
General
- Role
- Strategic area air defence
- Vehicles
- Wheeled (BAZ/MZKT), fully mobile
- Deployment time
- ± 5–10 min
- Notable
- Multi-missile, multi-target, anti-stealth claim
Weapon
- Missiles
- 40N6 / 48N6DM / 9M96E2 / 9M96E
- Guidance
- Inertial + active/semi-active radar terminal
- Max range
- ≈ 216 NM (40N6) / 135 NM (48N6DM)
- Altitude
- 33 ft – 98,400 ft
- Simultaneous targets
- up to 36 (80 missiles in guidance)
- Surface-to-surface (2026)
- ≥17 launchers converted for RM-48U (48N6 derivative) vs Ukrainian cities — HUR/DIU, not independently confirmed
- Possible extra launchers (Sep 2026)
- Heavy 51P6A launchers (MZKT-7930 chassis), possibly taken from the Kapustin Yar test range to fire RM-48U — OSINT theory via Defense Express, unconfirmed
- Launchers hit (Sep–Oct 2026)
- According to Ukrainian Defence Minister Khmara (11 Oct 2026), eight Russian launchers used for ballistic strikes have been hit since early September: three destroyed, five damaged. According to Militarnyi these were Iskander and S-400 systems; the split per system was not disclosed — source: Ukrainska Pravda / Militarnyi, RU Mil Tracker e-20261012-02; Ukrainian claim, not independently confirmed
Radar / sensors
- Acquisition
- 91N6 BIG BIRD (S-band, 324 NM)
- Fire control
- 92N6 GRAVE STONE (X-band)
- Low-altitude
- 96L6 / NEBO-M support
- EPM (ECCM)
- High — frequency agility
Warning & threat
- RWR
- Strong X-band lock; long detection range
- Tactics
- Stand-off jamming + low ingress required
- Threat level
- Dominates out to 216 NM — no-fly bubble
News archive 27
Analysed reports from the RU Mil Tracker about this system, newest first. Archive since 2026-07-17.
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HUR: Russia keeps missile stocks steady at up to 700 ballistic and several thousand cruise missiles, produces 200+ missiles a month, and has ordered over 100,000 Geran-type drones and decoys for 2026
According to figures Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) gave the Ukrainian outlet NV, published on 20 October 2026 and reported by Euromaidan Press, Russia holds up to 700 ballistic missiles and several thousand cruise missiles in reserve, roughly the same level HUR reported in July despite the autumn mass strikes. Russia can produce more than 200 missil…
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Russia hits Kyiv with Iskander-M, S-400, Zircon and Oniks missiles and 210 drones, including cluster-armed Iskanders in the historic centre, hours after the Putin–Witkoff meeting; at least 9 killed across Ukraine
Russia launched a combined missile and drone attack on Ukraine from 18:00 on 21 October 2026 into the morning of 22 October, with Kyiv as the main target. According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia fired Iskander-M ballistic missiles, S-400 missiles, Zircon and Oniks missiles from Kursk, Bryansk and Rostov oblasts, together with 210 drones: Shahed (110 of the…
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«Змінилися обставини, в основному — погодні умови»: відсоток збиття ворожих реактивних дронів і далі зростає (ArmyInform: 'Circumstances have changed, mainly the weather': the share of enemy jet drones shot down keeps rising)
Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on the national telethon that the weather shaped Russia's tactics in the overnight missile and drone attack on 19 October, ArmyInform reports. Kyiv was hit in two waves of missile strikes with Iskander-M and S-400 missiles. On warnings from partners, Ihnat said the earlier pattern roughly repeated: informati…
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«Российская ПВО и опыт Спецоперации: первые успехи» (Topwar: 'Russian air defence and the experience of the Special Operation: first successes')
In the first part of a three-part series, Topwar author Kirill Ryabov reviews the initial phase of Russian air defence in the war against Ukraine from February 2022. Ground Forces air defence carried the main load, with VKS air and missile defence units and naval systems also involved; the article lists the layered Ground Forces structure (S-300V4, Buk-M3,…
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Russia fires 39 ballistic-trajectory missiles and 128 drones, 77 of them jet-powered, at Ukraine overnight on 13-14 October: three killed in Kyiv, power cut in five districts
Russia carried out a massed combined strike on Ukraine between 18:00 on 13 October and the morning of 14 October, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. It says its radio-technical troops tracked 167 air-attack assets. These were 39 missiles flying ballistic trajectories, listed as Iskander-M, KN-23, S-400, Zircon and Oniks and launched from Kursk, Bryansk,…
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Russian ballistic missiles hit Kyiv before sirens on 12 and 13 October; Zelensky says partners gave no launch warning twice, while Trump says US intelligence sharing continues
Russia hit Kyiv with ballistic missiles on the evening of 12 October 2026, and the city's air-raid alert sounded only after the attack had begun. Preliminary Ukrainian Air Force data put the salvo at six ballistic missiles. Later reporting by Meduza and Euromaidan Press, citing POLITICO, gives five ballistic missiles along with more than 100 drones. Accordi…
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Ukraine says it has hit eight Russian Iskander and S-400 launchers used for ballistic strikes since September, destroying three
Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhen Khmara told journalists on 11 October that Ukraine's defence forces hit eight Russian launchers used for ballistic missile strikes during September and early October: three destroyed and five damaged. According to Militarnyi, these were launchers of the Iskander and S-400 systems. Khmara said the strikes "have forced the en…
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Су-24, два катери, 40 пунктів управління та десятки засобів ППО, РЛС і РЕБ — результати middle strike за вересень (ArmyInform: Su-24, two boats, 40 command posts and dozens of air-defence, radar and EW assets: results of middle strike for September)
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has published a September tally of its 'middle strike' campaign. According to the ministry, Ukraine's Defence Forces hit more than 30 Russian air-defence, radar and electronic-warfare assets, 40 command posts and more than 50 logistics targets during the month. The report does not define the term or name the Ukrainian units or…
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Russia shows Pantsir-S1M on Belarusian MZKT-7930-312 chassis at Tsentr-2026, first official confirmation of the configuration
During the strategic exercise Tsentr-2026, Russia showed an upgraded Pantsir-S1M gun-and-missile air defence system mounted on a Belarusian MZKT-7930-312 chassis, Defence Blog reports. It is the first official confirmation of this configuration, which until now was known only from a leaked supply contract and from one vehicle that Ukrainian drone operators…
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Ukraine's Fire Point FP-7 tactical ballistic missile used in combat for the first time, reportedly against a target in occupied territory; Zelensky says the Moscow-range FP-9 will be ready this autumn
On 1 October President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Telegram the first combat use of the FP-7, a ground-launched tactical ballistic missile developed by the Ukrainian company Fire Point (maker of the FP-1/FP-2 attack drones and the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile): "Ukrainian tactical ballistic missile. FP-7. First combat use. Thank you for the result. Next…
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Relocation of S-400 systems from Turkey on agenda — Kremlin spokesman
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by TASS, said the relocation of Russian-made S-400 air defence systems from Turkey is on the agenda: "The topic is on the agenda, relevant work is being conducted, and appropriate communication is in progress." He gave little further detail.
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Russian combined strike on Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, 29-30 Sep: Zircon/Oniks, Iskander and 188 drones, energy infrastructure the main target
According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia attacked Ukraine on the night of 29-30 September (from 18:00 on 29 September) with Zircon/Oniks anti-ship missiles launched from Kursk Oblast, Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles launched from Voronezh and Bryansk oblasts, and 188 drones: Shahed (86 of them jet-powered), Gerbera attack drones and Parodiya decoy UAVs.…
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russia Restricts Airspace Over Kapustin Yar Test Range, Potentially Ahead of Ballistic Missile Tests
According to Defense Express, Russia has issued a NOTAM restricting airspace over the Kapustin Yar test range in Astrakhan region from 28 September to 3 October 2026, daily between 09:00 and 19:00 local time. Kapustin Yar is a major Russian range for developing and testing missile systems, and such closures are imposed to ensure safety during launches or ot…
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Night of 28-29 Sep: Russia strikes Ukraine with a Zircon, two ballistic missiles and 152 drones; Air Force claims 109 downed, two unexploded ballistic warheads defused in Kyiv
Russia attacked Ukraine overnight on 28-29 September 2026 with one Zircon/Oniks anti-ship missile, two Iskander-M or S-400 ballistic missiles (launched from Kursk Oblast) and 152 drones, according to Ukraine's Air Force. The drones were Shahed types (82 of them jet-powered), Gerbera attack drones and Parodiya decoys, launched from Oryol, Millerovo, Kursk an…
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Chinese Tor-M1 derivative HQ-17 spotted in Algerian camouflage colours
Photos circulating on Chinese social media (Weibo) show a Chinese HQ-17 short-range air defence system painted in a camouflage pattern matching Chinese-made vehicles already in Algerian service, Defence Blog reports. Chinese sources claim the system is headed to Algeria; an OSINT account that flagged the photos noted the match but also a small possibility o…
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russia May Have Moved 51P6A Launchers From Kapustin Yar Test Range to Launch RM-48U Missiles From S-400 Systems
Defense Express discusses a theory from the OSINT analyst AS-22, posted with imagery on X. The theory holds that Russia took 51P6A launchers from the Kapustin Yar test range and uses them to fire RM-48U missiles from S-400 systems against ground targets in Ukraine. It builds on a report from Ukrainian Defence Intelligence in August 2026, which said up to 17…
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Ukrainian expert: Russia's best missile defences ring Moscow, leaving other strategic sites exposed to Ukraine's emerging ballistic missiles
Vadym Kushnikov, a military analyst with the Ukrainian defence portal Militarnyi, argued on Ukrainian Radio (reported 23 September 2026 and picked up by Ukrinform, UNIAN and Euromaidan Press) that Russia cannot protect all of its strategic sites against Ukrainian ballistic missiles. In his assessment, Russia does have systems capable of intercepting ballist…
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Як працює 413-й полк «Рейд»: Євген Карась про знищення С-400 та діпстрайки по росії
In a radio interview on Army FM on 23 September 2026, Yevhen Karas (callsign "Vortex"), commander of the 413th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment "Raid" of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said the regiment destroyed a Russian S-400 air defence system together with four missiles that had been used against Kyiv, adding that many had doubted such a system c…
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Russia strikes Kyiv with drones by day, then Zircon and Iskander-M missiles overnight; Zelensky claims 60% of ballistic missiles intercepted
Over roughly 24 hours on 23–24 September 2026, Russia struck Kyiv first with a daytime drone attack and then overnight with a combined missile and drone strike. On the morning of 23 September, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported drone hits on petrol stations in Holosiivskyi and Darnytskyi districts, a transport infrastructure facility, a four-storey busine…
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Russia ramps up ballistic strikes on Ukraine using converted S-400 missiles
Russia has driven its ballistic missile campaign against Ukraine to record intensity through mass use of the RM48U — a converted training/target missile originally built on decommissioned S-400 interceptor missiles (48N6DM family) and used to train air-defence crews — according to a Reuters exclusive based on official Ukrainian data. The missiles are now fi…
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Ukraine's hidden RAM-2X strike drone: maker claims over 350 Russian systems destroyed
Ukrainian manufacturer Ukrspecsystems, also known for its SHARK reconnaissance drones, has unveiled the RAM-2X after keeping it secret for two years: a loitering munition specifically employed against Russian S-400 and S-300 air defense systems and Iskander ballistic missile launchers. At its 2024 combat debut the drone had a range of about 140 km; this has…
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Ukraine strikes 2 S-400 launchers in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, General Staff claims
Ukraine's General Staff claims that overnight on Sept. 16-17, 2026, it struck two Russian S-400 launchers in the Vygonychi district of Bryansk Oblast. This claim has not been independently confirmed — no satellite imagery or other external verification is available — and the General Staff did not specify the extent of the damage to the launchers or the weap…
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Ukraine strikes Novorossiysk naval base; Navy claims Neptune hit on Kalibr frigate Admiral Essen
On the night of 8–9 September 2026, Ukraine carried out a large combined deep-strike against Russia's naval base and commercial port at Novorossiysk (Krasnodar Krai) and against targets near Anapa and Gelendzhik. The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), Defence Intelligence (HUR/DIU), the Security Service (SSU) and the Navy were all involved. USF commander Robert…
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Voyennaya Mysl: S-400 Crews Claim 10 MiG-29 Kills in One Day in 2023 via Over-the-Horizon Shoot-and-Scoot Tactic
SINGLE SOURCE — Russian Ministry of Defense journal Voyennaya Mysl (Military Thought), via Russian state media outlet Life.ru. An article in Voyennaya Mysl, co-authored by Major General Alexander Romanenkov (chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces' air-defense missile troops), addresses SAM unit maneuver tactics during the conflict, drawing on experience from…
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Turkiye Eyes Egypt as S-400 Buyer to Fix F-35 Program Problem, Cairo Already Operates russian S-300VM Claiming 40km Ballistic Intercept
According to Ukrainian outlet Defense Express (citing the Arabic-language outlet Defence Arabic), Turkey is looking at selling its Russian-made S-400 air defense systems onward, with Egypt named among the "probable buyers." Turkey acquired the S-400 from Russia in 2017, a purchase that led to Ankara's expulsion from the US F-35 program; the article suggests…
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Turkey Reportedly Eyes Egypt as S-400 Buyer to Resolve F-35 Impasse; Cairo Already Fields Russian S-300VM
Defense Express (author Ivan Kyrychevskiy) reports that Turkey is still seeking a buyer for its Russian S-400 air defense systems, acquired under a 2017 contract with Moscow and the direct cause of Turkey's exclusion from the US F-35 program. Egypt has reportedly emerged as a probable buyer, with talks said to have taken place when Egypt's defense minister…
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Ukrainian Drones Destroy Warehouses Near Moscow Despite Dozens of Pantsir Systems and Three S-400s
Ukrainian long-range attack drones reportedly struck a cluster of logistics and fuel facilities in Moscow Oblast around 20 July 2026, hitting Wildberries' largest sorting center in Koledino, the 'South Gate' (Yuzhni Vorota) industrial park near Metkino, and an oil depot in Lvovskoye, all located 20-30 km south of central Moscow near Podolsk. Defense Express…