Putin’s India visit could bring major defence upgrade; Russia may offer India a powerful weapon that could worry Pakistan

NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India on December 5–6. It is expected that during his visit, India and Russia would sign various defence deals that could be highly beneficial for India. In Operation Sindoor, India gained a major advantage thanks to its powerful weapons systems that destroyed Pakistani arms. Among them, the most notable was the S-400 missile defence system, which shot down Pakistan’s missiles and aircraft from within Pakistani territory itself. The Russian-made S-400 performed exceptionally well during the operation, drawing global attention. Under the 2018 defence agreement worth 5.43 billion dollars, India received five regiments of the S-400 system.

This success has given India strong confidence. India has now asked Russia for five more S-400 units. One S-400 regiment, with two batteries and 16 launcher vehicles, is already in India’s possession. Meanwhile, Russia is preparing to offer India an even more advanced weapon system- the S-500. The S-500 is not just an upgraded version of the S-400; it is an entirely new generation of missile defence.

There is a possibility that the S-500 could be built with India’s cooperation, unlike the S-400 deal. Indian defence companies may work together with the Russian firm Almaz-Antey. The S-500 is far more advanced than the S-400. While the S-400 has a range of 400 km, the S-500’s range is expected to be between 500 and 600 km. The S-400 can intercept targets up to 30 km in altitude, whereas the S-500 can reportedly reach 180 to 200 km.

The S-400 is designed to destroy fighter jets, cruise missiles, and drones. The S-500 can tackle all of these, and in addition, it can intercept ballistic missiles and even hypersonic weapons. The S-400 is used in strategic and operational roles, while the S-500 is meant for highly sensitive strategic environments. Whether India will acquire this powerful system will become clear in the coming days.