New Delhi: Impressed by the defensive arc, deterrence and punitive capability of its three S-400 Triumf systems, India is looking at procuring additional long-range air defence systems, ThePrint has learnt.
India is considering the possibility of actually acquiring the latest S-500 from Russia—something that the Indian Air Force was interested in when the contract for S-400s was signed. Sources in the defence and security establishment said that the contract signed in 2018 for five S-400 systems had a follow-on clause for additional five systems. The follow-on clause means that more systems can be bought at the same price, or considering any dollar value escalation and inflation cost.
Sources further said that the need for more S-400 or S-500 systems is part of the list of capabilities drawn up by the Defence Secretary prior to Operation Sindoor itself. “The S-400 performed very well in Operation Sindoor, and has a huge deterrence and punitive capability. Yes, we are looking at procuring more of the same. or the S-500,” a source said.
Russia, which is yet to deliver the last remaining two of the air defence systems, has promised to complete the contract by September next year, sources said, adding that everything depends on how things play out in the Russia-Ukraine war, and that the developments are being monitored closely.
The S-400 Triumf was the most modern air defence system in the Russian arsenal, when the contract was signed. The IAF was interested in the S-500, the next generation, but the Russians were not very keen because they were yet to raise it themselves.
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh had described the S-400 as a “game-changer”, saying that during Operation Sindoor, it had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets in the air, along with an AEW&C/ELINT aircraft at a distance of about 300 kilometres, the longest surface-to-air kill recorded in history.
ThePrint was the first to report on 8 May that the S-400 system had seen action for the first time during Operation Sindoor. Information related to actual kills had been held back at the time, since the IAF was still in the process of analysing the technical inputs.
The S-400 is capable of destroying incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones within a range of up to 400 km, with a tracking capability of nearly 600 km. It is also capable of taking out ballistic missiles and hypersonic targets. Compared to its predecessor—the S-300—the S-400 has a 2.5 times faster firing rate.
Each S-400 battery comprises long-range radar, a command post vehicle, target acquisition radar and two battalions of launchers (each battalion has eight). Each launcher has four tubes.
The S-400 can be armed with four different types of missiles with ranges of 400 km, 250 km, 120 km and 40 km. The Long Range (LR) radar can track more than 100 flying objects simultaneously, while being able to engage a dozen targets.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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