Why in News?

• A Russian official broke the news about delivery of S-400 air defence system to India. Location being stated of the first unit is western border of India.

About S-400

• S-400 is considered one of the most advanced and potent air defence system in the world.
• S-400 Triumf has the capability to protect against almost all sorts of aerial attacks, including rockets, cruise and ballisticmissiles, drones and fighter jets
• NATO has named it as SA-21 Growler
• S-400 acts as a shield over a particular area and it is a long range surface to air missile defence system
• It is an “anti-access/area denial”(A2/AD) asset
• It is designed to protect military, political and economic assets from aerial attacks
• Each of S-400 has two batteries, each has a command and control system
• S-400 comes with 4 types of missiles

1. Short range upto 40 km
2. Medium range up to 120 km
3. Long range upto 250 km
4. Very long range up to 400 km

• S-400 can simultaneously track up to 160 objects in 600 km range and target 72 objects in 400 km range.

Working

• S-400 detects an aerial threat approaching it’s a defence zone. It calculates its trajectory and fires missile to counter it
• S-400 has long range surveillance radars that sends information to the command vehicle which orders the missile launch.

CAATSA used against

• China:- For the purchase of S-400 and Sukhoi-35 combat aircraft from Russian from Russian firm Rosobornexport
• Turkey:- In 2020 for the purchase of S-400, Ankara has been sanctioned. Apart from it, sale of F-35 jets have also been cancelled.

India’s stand

• India has not back down under the US pressure.
• In a press briefing the Ministry of External Affairs conceded that theissue was “under discussion” between India and the U.S. for some time. “It was raised, and we have discussed it and explained our perspective. And the discussions on this are on-going”

Deal’s importance for India

• S-400 a ‘game changer’ is very important regarding threats from China, Pakistan and Afghanistan
• S-400 offset the IAF’s dwindling fighter squadron strength
• Integration of S-400 into national air defence architecture will be easier as India has a large number of Russian air defence systems
• By buying S-400, India has maintained its ‘strategic autonomy’.

Delivery status

• According to high ranking Russian official, Russia has started supplying S-400 to India and the first division will be delivered by the end of 2021
• India has placed order for five units in October 2018.
• The Indian government had told in Parliament that the final deliveries of all units are likely to be completed by April, 2023.

Customers of S-400

• Belarus, Algeria, Turkey and China have bought the air defence system from Russia.
• Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar have shown interest in the air defence system

Why US is disconcerted

• US wants India to lessen its military hardware dependency on Russia.
• Under Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) USA can sanction countries for buying Russian defence equipment.
• Induction of S-400 creates a hindrance to the ‘inter-operability’ of the forces