New Delhi> In October 2018, the Defence Ministry signed a $5.43 billion deal for ten battalions of S-400s. Most of these systems are placed near the border with Pakistan. The Indian Air Force is very happy with how well the S-400 worked in combat. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, the head of the Air Force, said in early August: “The S-400 system we recently bought has been a game changer. The range of the system kept their aircraft far away from the point where they could use their long-range air-to-ground weapons, like the glide bombs they have.
“According to sources in the Defence Ministry, the S-400 systems helped destroy at least five fighter planes and one large aircraft, which might have been an ELINT aircraft or an AEW&C system. The large aircraft was hit at a distance of 300 kilometers, showing the S-400’s ability to attack targets deep inside Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the S-400, saying it had given “unprecedented strength” to the country.The S-400 is one of two major air defense systems recently bought by the Indian Armed Forces.
The other is the French Rafale fighter, which performed poorly during recent clashes with Pakistan. The Rafale has issues like a small and weak radar system, and it does not fly as well as expected. Plus, each Rafale costs over $240 million, making it hard for the Air Force to buy more. Because of these problems and the lack of good options for advanced fifth-generation fighter jets in the near future, the S-400 has become even more important for India’s defense.
