S-400 and Its Importance for India

 

What is S-400 ?

S-400 is a Russian missile defense system which was inducted in Russian armed forces in the year of 2007. Since then, it has demonstrated its capabilities in various regions of the world, especially in Syrian conflict.

      
Basically, it equipped with four types of missiles: short- range up to 40 km; medium-range up to 120 km; long-range up to 250 km, and very-long-range up to 400 km and a flight altitude of 180 km. It has the capability  of tracking 160 objects in a 600 km range simultaneously, and target 80 objects in a 400 km range. It can also defend territory from both cruise and ballistic missiles. Another advantage of this air defense system is that that it is mobile in nature. Total cost of it has been described as $5.5 billion (approximately 41,000 crore)

Importance of S-400 for India –

1. It will create a narrative of ‘sovereign’ India as we have already seen it in president Putin’s press release.

2. It will pave the path to secure and strengthen India’s strategic autonomy.

3. As china also bought it, hence it will bring parity in Sino-India strategic relationship.

4. It will also create a robust strategic deterrence against Pakistan’s aggression if India takes any retaliatory measures against Pakistan based terrorist outfits like LeT, JeM and their infrastructure.   

5. Drone warfare will complicate the situation more and to thwart it we also need robust, advance and cutting edge technology in our defense sector as soon as possible. S-400 also has the potential to address this concerns.