The Indo-Russian relationship is best known for its defence deals. Russia has been a long-time partner of India since its independence and continues to do so with new and game-changing arm acquisition deals. In these lines, India is going to ink a ₹39,000 crore deal for five new-generation Russian S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems.
This system has the capability to destroy incoming hostile aircraft, stealth fighters, missiles and drones at ranges of up to 400-km, hence its name.
When Russian President Vladimir Putin headed for India to attend the BRICS Summit in Goa, the S-400 deal was inked over the weekend.
It is not a secret that some of the country’s most important installations, such as nuclear plants, dams, power plants, oil refineries and ammunition depots will be at risk from enemy aircraft in the event of a war. But with the S-400, these important installations can be saved from enemy attack.
The S-400 is a unique system that incorporates four types of missiles. Carried on mobile launchers, these missiles engage targets at the four ranges – 120 km, 200 km, 250 km and 380 km.
All the four are equipped with different capabilities and can fly at supersonic and hypersonic speeds.
The missiles can also engage multiple targets and can track them using mobile phased array radar creating a layered defence, and simultaneously engaging 36 targets.
The S-400 is the latest of a long range of highly successful air defence systems that have been the biggest threat to western aircraft across the world as the S-400 surface-to-air missile system can “radar lock and shoot down” stealth fifth-generation fighters like the American F-35 jets making its stealth capabilities useless.
The system is designed to counter a variety of threats from hypersonic cruise missiles to UAVs, airborne early warning aircraft, stealth fighters and even precision-guided munitions.
This procurement comes over a year after China sealed a $3 billion deal with Russia for an acquisition of six S-400 batteries.
India’s procurement of the S-400 Triumf system is in progress.
The first five units to be bought is expected to cost $ 6.1 billion, the most expensive air defence system ever bought by India. Deliveries of the S-400 are not expected before 2019-20 as Russian lines currently are churning out systems for their own requirements. Besides, the production line is booked at least until the end of 2018 due to the Chinese order for 6 systems worth $ 3 billion.
The S-400 Triumfs are manufactured by Russian Almaz-Antey and has been in Russian service since 2007.
