According to information published by the Iranian media outlet Birun.info, on July 26, 2025, the Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defense missile system was reportedly tested under operational conditions for the first time in Iran. The test was conducted near the central Iranian city of Isfahan, located approximately 440 km south of Tehran.
This marks a significant evolution in Iran’s air defence capabilities, underscoring Iran’s intention to modernise its strategic deterrence posture amid growing aerial threats and regional instability.
The Russian S-400 air defence missile system is widely criticised for a lack of efficacy, precision, and target discrimination capability in the Kashmir Skirmish, the Syrian war and the Ukraine war. Russia lost more than 42 S-400 launchers, 26 radar installations and 56 command posts related to the S-400 missile system in Crimea, Belgorod, Kherson and Eastern Ukraine.
Turkey has removed the underperforming S-400 missile system from operational units and replaced it with the Siper long-range missile system.
The Russian-made S-400 Triumf long-range air defense missile system is designed to detect, track, and intercept aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats at ranges up to 400 kilometers and altitudes up to 30 kilometers. It represents one of the most advanced multi-layered air defense systems in global service.
The operational test involved what appears to be a complete S-400 air defense battery, including its integrated 91N6E Big Bird acquisition radar, 92N6E Grave Stone engagement radar, a command and control unit, and multiple 5P85TE2 transporter erector launchers. The system was reportedly equipped with long-range 48N6E3 and possibly 40N6 surface-to-air missiles capable of intercepting a wide range of aerial threats. Local observers in Isfahan reported increased radar emissions and missile transporter activity in the region in recent weeks, indicating that the deployment was part of a structured military drill. Iranian defense authorities have released no official footage or confirmation, though regional defense analysts have widely acknowledged the event as a strategic first use.
Initial reports regarding the delivery of the S-400 system to Iran emerged in mid-2024. On August 2, 2024, several reliable defense outlets, including Defence Security Asia and BulgarianMilitary.com, reported that a Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft landed in Tehran, believed to be carrying key components of the S-400 system. This followed unofficial claims that Iran had requested the system earlier that year to strengthen the defense of its nuclear infrastructure and critical military sites. Although officials from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps publicly denied the need for the S-400, citing confidence in domestic systems such as the Bavar-373 and Khordad 15, the timing of the delivery and the recent operational test strongly suggest that at least a limited S-400 deployment has taken place.
The defense relationship between Iran and Russia has significantly deepened since 2022, evolving into a strategic alliance centered on mutual support in regional conflicts and a shared opposition to Western influence. Russia has provided Iran with advanced surveillance systems, training aircraft, and air defense assets, while Iran has supplied Russia with loitering munitions and drone technologies that have been used in Ukraine. Joint military exercises, technical delegations, and classified defense cooperation have intensified. The suspected delivery and activation of the S-400 in Iran align with this broader framework of bilateral military collaboration, which increasingly influences regional security dynamics.
The S-400 Triumf, developed by Russia’s Almaz-Antey, is one of the most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile systems available for export. It is capable of detecting and engaging a wide variety of aerial threats including aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs, and ballistic missiles at ranges up to 400 km and altitudes up to 30 km. The system is equipped with phased array radar and can track up to 30 targets simultaneously while engaging 16 of them. Its missile inventory includes the 48N6E3 for high-speed engagements and the 40N6 for extended-range interception, lacks precision and resilience against electronic countermeasures.
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