The 2018 contract with Russia for 5 S-400 systems had a follow-on clause for 5 more. S-400 was described as a 'game-changer' for shooting down 5 Pakistan fighter jets during Op Sindoor.
New Delhi’s growing optimism around the delivery of the two remaining S-400 Triumf air defence systems belies the long and complicated journey of the deal.
Each S-400 battery comprises long-range radar, a command post vehicle, target acquisition radar and two battalions of launchers—each battalion has eight launchers.
At the heart of Project Kusha is the development of Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles or LR-SAM. The project, first greenlit in 2022, was given Acceptance of Necessity last month.
Majority of Indian defence equipment is currently of Soviet or Russian make, and, in scientific fields, the collaboration has included space physics and aerospace.
The delivery of the S-400 missile system was originally scheduled to begin in 2020, but the deadline was extended after payments to Moscow were delayed.
While global corporations setting up GCCs in India continue to express confidence in availability of skilled AI engineers, the panel argued that India’s real challenge lies elsewhere.
Taylor ‘Fema’ Hiester, commander of USAF F-16 Viper Demo Team, hit out at air show organisers for continuing with the show after Wing Commander Namansh Syal lost his life in the incident.
It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.
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