Russian air defence missile system S-400 was dubbed ‘Sudarshan’ by Air Force
New Delhi, 08 Nov : Indian Air Force has named the S-400 air defence missile system received from Russia as ‘Sudarshan’ after Lord Krishna’s weapon ‘Sudarshan Chakra’. So far, 3 squadrons have arrived in India and the remaining two are to be delivered by 2024. The Air Force inducted the S-400 for the first time in the ‘Akash Purvi’ exercise held with the Indian Army in the northeastern region bordering China. There is a possibility of delay in the supply of the remaining two S-400s due to the war with Ukraine, so India has decided to make the air defence missile system S-400 itself.
In view of the threat from China and Pakistan, India was in great need of the powerful Russian air defence system S-400. Therefore, during the tenure of former Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, the deal for a squadron S-400 missile system between India and Russia was done for Rs 35 thousand crore. Amidst the war with Ukraine, Russia has so far supplied 3 S-400 missile defence systems to India, while two systems are yet to be delivered. All three S-400s have been deployed on the eastern, western and northern borders of the country. The remaining two squadrons are due to be delivered by 2024, but their delivery is likely to be delayed due to the war with Ukraine.
The Air Force and the Indian Army last month conducted the ‘Akash East’ exercise in the northeastern region bordering China, which also involved Russian S-400 long-range surface-to-air missiles. Apart from this, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Rafale, indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas and attack helicopter LCH Prachanda as well as ground troops were also involved in this mega air exercise. The exercise demonstrated the operational readiness of the Indian Air Force. The Air Force has named the Russian Air Missile Defence System S-400 ‘Sudarshan’ after Lord Krishna’s weapon ‘Sudarshan Chakra’.
India has about 15 thousand kilometres of border with neighbouring countries. Missile defence systems are inadequate for long-range surveillance, hence after the supply of all five S-400s from Russia, India plans to build 5 more S-400 squadrons in India under the ‘Make in India’ scheme. . India shares a 3,488 km long border only with China. This border passes through Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. This border is divided into three sectors, in which western sector i.e. Jammu and Kashmir, central sector i.e. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and the eastern sector i.e. Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
DRDO’s long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) will be ready for deployment by 2029. This missile, being built under Project ‘Kusha’, will be capable of detecting large targets like fighter jets, missiles and drones up to 250 km range and AWECS up to 350 km range. It will also be able to detect stealth fighter jets. The CCS headed by PM Modi had approved the project in a very secret manner in May 2022 along with a fund of Rs 21,700 crore for rapid development. A total of 5 squadrons will have 3 different types of surface-to-air missiles up to 150 km, 250 km and 350 km.
