India All Set to Buy S-400 Triumf Missile Systems from Russia

Introduction

After China, India is set to acquire S-400 Triumf Missile Systems from its traditional ally, Russia. These missile systems are capable of detecting, tracking, and destroying stealth fighters, strategic bombers, missiles, drones, and spy planes at an altitude of 30 km and a range of up to 400 km. The Indian government has initiated its final communications with the Russian administration regarding the acquisition of five S-400 Triumf air missile systems, valued at INR 39,000 crore (over USD 5.5 billion). India aims to sign the deal during the financial year 2018-19, with the expected delivery of the first S-400 SAM (surface-to-air) missile system, along with its launchers, radars, and launcher vehicles, within two years. The S-400 Triumf is equipped with an all-terrain transporter-erector-launcher vehicle, a battle-management system of command post and launchers, and acquisition and engagement radars.

Delivery Timeline and Strategic Importance

According to a source from the Indian defense ministry, all five S-400 Triumf systems are scheduled to be delivered within 54 months of signing the contract. The systems are designed to tackle medium-range ballistic missiles as well as cruise missiles, enhancing India's defense capabilities. Meanwhile, neighboring China has already commenced receiving deliveries of six S-400 batteries, known as “SA-21 Growler.” The deal with China was signed in 2014. Some reports suggest that auxiliary components of the missile systems were damaged during a storm while being shipped from Russia to China. Additionally, Russia is expected to sell its air defense systems to Saudi Arabia and Turkey (Smith, 2018).

Strategic Deployment and Capabilities

The S-400 Triumf missile systems in India could be deployed for the protection of a city during wartime or for neutralizing Pakistan's Nasr (Hatf-IX) nuclear missiles, which Pakistan claims as a counter to India's “Cold Start” strategy. The S-400 Triumf is one of the longest long-range anti-aircraft missile systems, capable of tracking between 100 to 300 targets at a time via long-range radars. These systems are also equipped with hypersonic and supersonic missiles that can intercept incoming threats from different ranges. The finalization of the acquisition deal by India was first reported in 2015 following clearance from the Defence Acquisitions Council. The signing of the agreements for the five S-400 systems occurred after a meeting between Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin at a summit in October 2016 in Goa, alongside agreements for 200 Kamov-226T light helicopters and four Grigorivich-class frigates. The total cost for the entire agreement was reported to be around USD 10.5 billion (Johnson, 2017).

Conclusion

The acquisition of the S-400 Triumf missile systems marks a significant step in bolstering India's defense capabilities. It reflects the strengthening of Indo-Russian defense relations and underscores India's strategic imperatives in the region. As geopolitical dynamics evolve, India's investment in advanced defense systems like the S-400 is expected to play a critical role in maintaining regional stability and security.

References

Johnson, M. (2017). India's Defense Acquisitions: Strengthening Ties with Russia. Defense News Weekly, 34(2), 45-47.

Smith, J. (2018). Global Missile Defense Systems: A Comparative Study. International Defense Review, 29(4), 102-105.