S-400 Air Defence System Can Be A Game-changer For India

India and Russia last week signed a $5 billion deal to acquire five new generation Russian S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems along with other defense equipment.

The deals were announced following talks held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit on Saturday.

The air defense missile system is capable of engaging all types of aerial targets including aircraft and Very Low Observable craft.

The S-400 can neutralize drones as well as ballistic and cruise missiles within a range of 400 kms up to an altitude of 32 kms. The system is equipped with three different types of missiles and radar capable of tracking up to 300 targets within the range of about 600 kms, creating a layered defense and can engage up to 36 targets simultaneously.

India is the only second customer after China who bought the missile defense system for US $3 billion last year. Russian experts proclaim that the S-400 system can shoot down fifth-generation fighter jets, like America’s most advanced F-35s.

The S-400 is a combat proven missile defense system already in use in Syria. A S-400 air defense system was delivered and deployed on combat duty by Russia at the Hmeymim air base in Syria after Turkey’s Air Force downed an Su-24 Fencer bomber operating in Syria against the Islamic State in November last year.

Triumf is a system made of eight launchers and a control station. The deals were announced following talks held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit being held in Goa.

India and Russia have been in talks for over a year for the purchase of at least five systems of S-400.