In October 2016 India and Russia signed an Inter-governmental Agreement (IGA) for purchasing five S-400 long range surface-to-air missile system. Total cost of deal was about 5.43 billion U.S. dollars equivalent to Indian Rupees 40,000 crore.


Just after 5 years from the date of signing the agreement, S-400 manufacturer Rosoboronexport has started delivery of S-400 to India in a batch by batch manner and the entire delivery will be completed within few months.


Prior to it’s delivery, Russian experts of Rosoboronexport has already trained a group of Indian military personnel to operate the Triumf S-400 surface-to-air missile systems

In 2007 Russia has started inducting S-400 long range Surface-to-air missile system in their military arsenal and the same has been effectively safeguarding Russia’s vast air space for the past 14 years.


Though the Russian military has inducted S-400 in 2007, still the same has been the best Surface-to-air missile system in the world.


Earlier Russia utilized S-400 in Syria to support Bashar al-Assad regime militarily when his regime was facing worst ever internal and external military threats.


S-400 long range surface-to-air missile system is far superior than the U.S. Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.
China, Turkey, Belarus has already been purchased S-400 surface-to-air missile system.


Other countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Vietnam, and Iraq are willing to purchase S-400 long range surface-to-air missile system from Russia.


But all these countries are now retracting from proceeding further because of U.S. diplomatic pressure and to avoid CAATSA Sanction ( Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) from is a United States.


What is CAASTA:-

  • U.S. Senate enacted CAATSA law in 2017 to punish Russia by sanctioning the persons or countries engaging in business transactions with the Russian defense sector. By enacting this law, U.S. main intention is to deter other countries from buying Russian military hardware.
  • CAATSA basically meant for discouraging exports of Russian defense equipment and this sanctions would make difficult payments in US Dollars to Rosoboronexport for the S-400 purchase.

Earlier U.S. has already imposed CAATSA sanctions on a Chinese entity i.e. “Equipment Development Department (EDD) of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC)” for purchasing Su-35 fighter aircraft and the S-400 surface-to-air missile system from Russia.


Russia began delivery of S-400 Surface-to-air missile system to India in such a time number of Indian Air force fighter planes Squadron has been depleting in a faster manner and the consistent military threat India has been facing from China and Pakistan.


Considering India’s present military strength, India can tackle Pakistan’s military threat in an easier manner.

Considering the ongoing military threat India has been facing from China at Indo China Border, India badly requires the most advanced S-400 Surface-to-air missile system to thwart any Chinese military attack against India by utilizing their fighter aircrafts, drones, cruise missiles and other short and long range missiles.


Details of the Capabilities of S-400 Long range surface-to-air missile system:-

S-400 has a long-range surveillance radars that sends information instantly to it’s command and control system of S-400.

S-400 promptly detects any aerial threat approaching the air defense bubble, calculates the trajectory of the threat, and fires missiles to counter it.

Each S-400 is a multi-platform complex with two batteries, independent command-and- control systems, a surveillance radar, an engagement radar, and up to four launch trucks that are used to transport, erect, and launch the SAMs.

S-400’s advanced radar system and onboard sensors enable it to fire four different types of missiles such as 40 kilometers range, 120 kilometers range, 250 kilometers range, and the 400 kilometers range.

S-400 is basically a long-range surface to air missile(SAM) system designed to engage both aerial and ballistic targets, including intruding aircraft, remotely piloted vehicle (RPVs), and cruise missiles.

S-400 can destroy cruise missiles, and zip at several times the speed of sound to engage RPVs and missiles flying as low as four meters above the ground.

S-400 system’s acquisition radars can detect stealth-protected aircraft by operating in multiple frequency bands to ‘see’ them.