Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia, there's uplifting news for the Indian Air Force. India's purchase of five S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia has seen progress with three units already received. The delivery of the remaining two had been pending. Now, Russia has announced the pending units will arrive in 2026.
Due to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, Russia delayed sending these air defense missile systems. Issues in the supply chain were cited. However, these issues are now reportedly resolved. Russia has assured that the fourth unit will reach India by March 2026, and the fifth one by the end of the same year.
Source: aajtak
With the S-400 air defense missile system on Indian soil, adversaries like China or Pakistan won't dare to engage in any mischief across the borders. The arrival of the remaining units will render the nation's security impregnable. Training for the S-400 missile system operators has been completed.
The Impenetrable Defense Shield, Not Just a Weapon
The S-400 air defense missile system is not just a weapon; it's a formidable force. Any conspiracy against it is doomed to failure—it can turn an attacker from the sky into ash in an instant. The S-400 missile system is regarded as one of the most capable missile defenses in the world.
India has historically faced challenges from Pakistan and China. India has been at war with these countries, and a missile system like the S-400 was necessary to maintain a balance of power. Adding the S-400 system to the Indian Air Force will significantly bolster its might.
Source: aajtak
The deal for the five units was struck at the cost of 33,000 crores rupees
In October 2018, India agreed to a deal with Russia for such systems, totaling 5 billion dollars or 33,000 crores rupees. With the S-400 missile air defense system, India will be empowered to intercept nuclear missiles before they even reach its territory, whether from China or Pakistan.
The S-400 system enables India to keep a watchful eye even beyond the borders with China and Pakistan. In any conflict, the S-400 will be capable of targeting enemy combat aircraft before they can even take off, be it China's J-20 fighter planes or Pakistan's American-made F-16 fighters. This missile system holds the power to destroy all such threats.
Source: aajtak
The S-400 missile system carries a variety of missiles with different ranges including 40, 100, 200, and 400 kilometers. It can detect and destroy targets flying from 100 to 40,000 feet. The S-400 Air Defence Missile System features an advanced and potent radar system.
Capability to track 300 targets within a 600 km range
Its radar can track approximately 300 targets within a 600-kilometer range. This system is capable of countering all kinds of aerial attacks, whether from missiles, aircraft, or drones. During the Cold War, the arms race between the US and Russia led to the development of powerful weapons. When Russia could not match the missile capabilities of the US, it embarked on creating systems that could eliminate missiles before they hit their targets.
The S-200 system was developed by Russia in 1967, and it marked the inception of the S series of missiles. The S-300 was developed in 1978. The S-400 was created in 1990, with testing commencing in 1999. On April 28, 2007, Russia deployed the first S-400 missile system, followed by the advance system given to China in March 2014, and on July 12, 2019, Turkey received its first delivery.
