India has steadily increased its air defense capabilities in the Ladakh Valley region, near the border with China.
The Indian Ministry of Defense continues to commit to adding a Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defense system, despite the continued conflict in Ukraine that led to delays in childbirth. Almost a year ago, the final unit was operating two years late and it was reported that New Delhi might see a system released in August 2026.
However, India’s Ministry of Defense expects the timeline could be a bit shorter for the S-400’s 4th Squadron, which could arrive at least by the end of this year. 2026.
India is not blocked by sanctions
In March 2021, then-US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warned his Indian counterpart Rajnassin that New Delhi could face sanctions after purchasing the Russian S-400 air defense system. However, India has not been blocked by the threat, and it is unclear whether current Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses will be instructed to issue a similar warning from the White House.
Even if the domestic arms industry has significantly increased production as part of its “Make India” campaign, New Delhi remains one of the biggest buyers of Moscow’s military hardware. However, there are restrictions as India has not expressed enough interest to advance the deal for the fifth generation Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO report name: “felony”) stealth fighter, which is what the aircraft have. It may be under criticism that you received.
In contrast, the S-400 has been widely praised, with India signing a $5.43 billion contract in October 2018 for five squadrons. Three of them have already been released.
According to India’s Today, citing the Ministry of Defense, one of the remaining two batches will be delivered by the end of this year, with the final squad being “expected in 2026.”
The three platforms received by the Indian Army are currently operational.
“One of the deployed squadrons is strategically positioned to protect the Siliguri corridor, an important passageway connecting India’s northeastern state and the rest of the country,” the Indian news outlet added. I did. “Another squadron will be stationed in the Patangkot region, strengthening the defenses of Jammu, Kashmir and Punjab, providing security against potential aviation threats from both China and Pakistan. The third squadron will be It is deployed along India’s western border, ensuring protection of major locations in Rajasthan and Gujarat from enemy attacks.”
It remains unclear where the last two S-400s will be located, but India has been in the Ladakh Valley region near the border of China since the start of the recent conflict between the two countries in 2020. We have steadily increased our air defense capabilities. Cooled New Delhi may seek to further strengthen its air defense as Beijing continues to strengthen its People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) with more advanced fighter and bombers.
Crosshair S-400
The S-400 Triumf system (known by NATO as the SA-21 Growler) is designed to counter enemy airstrikes, including cruises, tactical and operational ballistic missiles, in addition to medium-range missiles. Masu.
Air defense systems can also be used against ground targets. It launches a 40N6 missile and can hit targets up to 400 kilometres away, even under intensive enemy fires and jamming. It first launched in 2007.
The S-400’s mission set and capabilities are comparable to the US MIM-104 Patriot System. Unlike some Patriot Interceptors, however, the S-400 does not currently employ hit-to-kill ballistic missile defense technology. It has both defensive and offensive capabilities.
“Each S-400 battalion set consists of 16 hardware units, including launchers, radar, control centers and support vehicles,” explained Tass, a Russian state-run media outlet, “aero forces at distances of up to 400 km. It can destroy targets, and tactical ballistic targets can be destroyed. It has a speed of 4.8 km/s (cruise missiles, tactical and strategic aircraft) that are up to 60 km away.”
Can India get the S-400 from Türkiye?
India seems to be patient about when to receive the final two S-400 companies, but last year there has been an idea that could solve two problems. Cavit Caglar, a Turkish businessman who served as Minister of State in the early 1990s, suggested last summer that Ankara should abandon the S-400 and find foreign buyers.
Both India and Pakistan were also proposed as enthusiastic buyers of the system.
A member of NATO, Turkey had chosen to advance its Russian-made air defense system after it failed to close trade in its US-made patriot mobile interceptor missile ground air missile (SAM) systems. . However, by choosing the S-400, Turkey was then expelled from the US-led F-35 joint strike fighter program. Fighter planes and it would compromise the security of aircraft.
Turkey is part of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II supply chain and reportedly paid $1.25 billion to participate in the effort. Production of parts for the fifth generation aircraft generated Ankara’s revenue of $9 billion, but it was expected that the six F-35 aircraft produced for Turkey would not have been delivered.
In a cynical twist, the Turkish S-400 was not operating at the end of 2023 when Turkish Defense Minister Yashal Güller said the platform is a defense system that will be adopted when necessary. did. For more than a year since it was disclosed, the air defense system appears to be in storage.
As previously reported, Turkey was able to sell the S-400 to India. This will allow Ankara to engrave a way to regain goodwill in Washington and return to the F-35 program. New Delhi also managed to get a much-needed system, not more than a year later, in addition to preventing regional rival Pakistan from purchasing them instead.
About the author: Peter Suciu
Peter Sassou is a Michigan writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites with over 3,200 published works in his 20-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearm history, cybersecurity, politics and international issues. Peter is also a contributor writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @petersuciu. You can send an email to the author: (Email protection).
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