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Following the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek, activity around defence ties between Moscow and New Delhi has picked up pace.
Ahead of an upcoming bilateral meeting in New Delhi, Russia has prepared a strategy to offer India two of its most advanced weapons systems — the S-500 Prometheus air defence missile system and the Su-57 Felon stealth fighter jet.
The centrepiece of Russia’s new defence pitch is the S-500 Prometheus. Moscow views it as the next step following the success of the S-400, which is already part of India’s arsenal.
The S-400 has proven an impenetrable shield for India against threats from the sky.
During Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, the Indian Air Force’s S-400 system shot down an enemy early-warning aircraft from an extraordinary distance.
Following this success, Russia has offered India five additional S-400 squadrons. The S-500 proposal, however, is fairly complex.
India is currently working on Project Kusha, a project to develop an indigenous air defence system in the S-400 category.
India’s own Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) programme has progressed significantly. In this context, whether spending a heavy budget to purchase the S-500 would be the right decision, or whether it would deal a blow to India’s own domestic projects, remains a question.
The S-500 Prometheus, developed by Russia, is the world’s most advanced and powerful next-generation air and anti-ballistic missile defence system. It is a strategic security shield more capable and able to strike at higher altitudes than even the S-400 missile system. Its interception range is approximately 500 to 600 kilometres. Its advanced radar can detect a threat from more than 800 kilometres away.
The system’s response time is less than 4 seconds, compared to the S-400’s response time of about 10 seconds.
The latest defence missile system can easily target hypersonic missiles, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), cruise missiles, and fifth-generation stealth fighter jets such as the F-35 and F-22.
India’s fighter squadrons are continuously declining. The country’s own indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) will still take several years to complete.
On the other hand, China has more than 500 J-20 stealth fighter jets, and Pakistan is soon set to receive J-35 stealth jets from China.
To counter this threat, India urgently needs 5th-generation fighter jets.
In this context, Russia has made a second major offer to meet India’s requirement. The Su-57 Felon stealth fighter could strengthen India’s aerial combat capability.
The Sukhoi Su-57 is Russia’s first fifth-generation twin-engine stealth multirole fighter aircraft. This aircraft is capable of evading enemy radar detection. It uses composite materials that reduce radar signals and has an internal weapons bay. It can fly at supersonic speed, more than Mach 1.3, without using an afterburner and can achieve a maximum speed of up to Mach 2.
Over the past two decades, India has ended its dependence on a single country. Instead of relying on one nation, India is diversifying its defence suppliers.
India has advanced the procurement of Javelin anti-tank missiles from the US. It has moved forward with plans to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from France.
Despite this, Russia holds a significant advantage in India. Due to decades of use of Russian tanks, fighter jets and submarines, Russian technology is deeply embedded in the Indian armed forces.
Moscow and New Delhi are strengthening their defence cooperation, benefiting both nations. Russia is supplying the Voronezh radar and upgrading India’s Su-30MKI fleet. It is, however, modernising Kilo-class submarines.
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