Russia has started delivery of S-400 air defense missile systems to India
According to information published by the Indian newspaper “The Hindu” website on November 14, 2021, Russia has started the delivery of S-400 air defense missile systems to India, and the first systems will be delivered by the end of 2021, said Dmitry Shugaev, Director of Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC).
India announced its plans to purchase five regiments S-400 Russian-made air defense missile systems in 2015. The relevant contract worth $5.43 billion was signed during a visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India in October 2018.
Russia and India are consistently developing cooperation in the economic, political, humanitarian, military-technical, and healthcare spheres in compliance with the accords reached the highest level.
In October 2021, the Russian press agency Tass has announced that the first Russian-made S-400 (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) air defense missile systems will be delivered to India at the end of the year, citing the Indian Air Force Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari.
The S-400 is one of the most popular air defense missile systems in the world which is now in service with Russia, Belarus, China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and now India.
The S-400 is a Russian-made air defense missile system by Almaz-Antey as an upgrade of the S-300 family of air defense missile systems. The S-400 enters in service with the Russian armed forces in 2007. The launcher vehicle of the S-400 battery has four missile containers; each container could house one 48N6E or four 9M96 surface-to-air missiles.
The missile S-400 also nicknamed Triumph is designed to engage, ECM, radar-picket, director area, reconnaissance, strategic and tactical aircraft, tactical and theatre ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles and other current and future air attack assets at a maximum range of 400 km, and an altitude of up to 30 km. The S-400 Triumph can also destroy Tomahawk cruise missiles and other types of missiles, including precision-guided ones, as well as AWACS aircraft, at ranges of up to 400 km. It can also detect stealth aircraft and other targets at all altitudes of their combat employment and at maximum ranges. This air defense missile system can simultaneously engage 36 targets.
A battery of S-400 missile system includes a surveillance radar 64N6 Tombstone 3D or 96L6E 3D System, a low altitude radar 76NG Clam Shell, and the fire control Radar with the 36N85 Flap Lid. The Control System 86M6E and operation station 54K6E. Missiles are launched from 5P85TE2 TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) or 5P85SE2 trailer launchers operating in conjunction with a BAZ-64022 or MAZ-543M tractor-trailer.