New Delhi: In the ongoing heightened tensions with Pakistan, India’s air defence systems have shown how strong they are. They have shot down and destroying every drone and missile launched from the other side of the border. As Pakistan continuously tried to breach the Indian wall, the Russian-made S-400 system succeeded in shooting down Turkish and Chinese drones mid-air, serving as the only one of its kind in the air, according to the study, puncturing Pakistan’s woeful defence system. Encouraged by this success, Russia has also proposed to India a joint production of the more advanced S-500. This has generated considerable interest due to its highly sophisticated capabilities.
A game changer for India due to its establishment as the backbone of its defence, the S-400 has proven itself by sending Pakistan’s air incursions back into hiding. But even taking this into account, the S-500 will raise India’s security level to a whole new level. The next-generation system, or systems, have reportedly been considered space-capable behemoths, extending well beyond just being an air defence platform. It can hit multiple targets at once in a layered defence, destroying fighter jets, cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, and low-orbit spy satellites. The S-500 has a maximum range of up to 600 kilometres, can simultaneously hit 10 targets flying at a speed of a second cosmic (Mach 20) and is considered unrivalled in the world flying at an altitude of about 200 kilometres above Earth.
But the S-500 is a generation above the S-400, which is already a superior missile for destroying aircraft, drones and even ballistic missiles. What makes it India’s weapon of choice is its capability to hunt down not just hypersonic weapons but also satellites. Though the S-400 is a formidable air defence system, the multi-dimensional nature of the S-500 is a game-changer and can defeat 21st-century advanced weapons.
India needs to boost manufacturing given the instability in the region now, and Russia is saying, hey, we could make this together. The S-400 silenced doubting officials and pundits alike with its recent successes, and the potential availability of the S-500 could change the game entirely for India. New Delhi is pondering the offer for now, mindful of how such an alliance would alter the power equation in South Asia and beyond. India’s skies — and perhaps its space frontier — look set for an upgrade as threats evolve.