Chinese S-400 systems across LAC, forces India to rethink air defence
In a big move to modernize its infantry combat vehicles, Indian Army plans to buy Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles
June 24, 2021CII Defence and Aerospace Subcommittee ER Meeting Held on 29 June 2021 Under the Chairmanship of Tribhuvan Darbari
July 3, 2021The PLA has upgraded Hotan air base in Xinjiang and Nyingchi air base in Tibet. Both bases are just across the LAC in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh respectively with the PLA deploying S-400 squadrons to protect them from Indian aerial threat. Though India also does not lag behind and has already pushed in more air defence and radar systems in Ladakh since 20 May, giving it a full view of the deployment and activities across the Line of Actual Control (LAC); The Indian Air Force (IAF) has also war-gamed how it can successfully launch air operations in case China deployed its S-300 and S-400 air defence systems, as it has reportedly done in the Tibet region adjoining Ladakh amid the current stand-off.
These recent developments along the LAC emphasize the importance of state-of-the-art air defence system. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday said that air defence was becoming more and more complex in the larger context of the proposed setting up of an air defence theater command. He said there were large use of air space, not limited to just aircraft and helicopters.
This step taken by the PLA has forced the Indian national security planners into a rethink about air defence and counter-measures. To add to this increasingly complex scenario are armed UAVs, swarm drones, missiles and rockets, which are now part of stand-alone weapon systems of the PLA.
S-400 air defence system, about to arrive in India by December 2021, will provide ‘100% protection’ even at high altitudes. It is being seen as a significant boost to Indian defence capabilities especially along the Line of Actual Control with China. IAF (Indian Air Force) personnel are already now training on the system in Russia. The Russian developers of the S-400 expressed confidence about the air defence system’s performance in areas at high altitude. Extensive testing was undertaken which shows that the S-400 can be operated at altitudes of over 3,000 metres above sea level.
About S-400
S-400, or ‘Triumf’, is considered one of the world’s most advanced air defence systems. It is developed by Russia’s Almaz Central Design Bureau. Its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) reporting name is ‘SA-21 Growler’. Alamaz-Antey is also ‘Make in India’ partner of Texmaco Defence Systems Private Limited.
The system is able to track flying objects over 600 kilometres and can engage with these hostile targets and shoot them down using missiles in a range of up to 400 km. It can shoot down hostile aircraft, drones, ballistic missiles and hypersonic targets.
Every unit consists of multiple components: a long-range radar to track objects, a target acquisition radar, a command post vehicle and battalions of launchers. The system can carry multiple types of missiles catering to different strike ranges.
While specifications of the S-400 systems that are to be delivered to India are unclear, the regular variant used by Russian forces consists of at least eight launchers with 32 missiles.
The system can reportedly shoot down strategic bombers such as B-1 and B-2, airborne early warning and control system (AWACS), fighter jets such as the F-16 and land attack missiles such as the Tomahawk. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has F-16s in its fleet.
