NEW DELHI (Transatlantic Today)- In what seems to be a pretty loud statement, the Indian Air Force has acquired a new S-400 air defense system. On the surface, the addition to their defense seems daunting. Effective against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aircraft, and ballistic and cruise missiles, the S-400 seems to be a source of powerful defense.
Wasting no time, the Indian government is sending the first squadron of this new missile defense system directly to the Punjab region. An anonymous source from India’s government told ANI, “The first squadron is being deployed in the Punjab sector. The batteries of the first squadron would be capable of taking care of aerial threats from both Pakistan and China.”
There’s no denying that this is a bold move on India’s part; and as such, it has not been without its controversies. Mansoor Ahmed, a senior fellow at Pakistan’s Center for International Strategic Studies, claims that “Indian rhetoric appears to suggest a belief that the S-400 effectively makes its airspace impenetrable and forces invulnerable.”
While not completely invulnerable, the S-400 defense system has its advantages. The missiles’ range goes from 40 to 400 kilometers, allowing it to protect areas far away while also protecting itself. Secondly, the entire system is designed to be mobile: it can be set up and ready for use only 5 minutes after relocation. This mobility allows for quick relocation, which the Indian government can use to keep the location top-secret.
However, India did not acquire these missiles — or the resources to use them — without some international cooperation. Alexander Mikheyev, the head of the state-run Russian military firm, Rosoboronexport, previously told TASS that Russian defense and ballistics experts would visit India in January to oversee and advise the installation and early days of the new system.
Back in 2018, India signed a $5 billion deal with Russia to buy several units of the S-400 defense system. Even though the Trump administration threatened sanctions if the deal went through, India persisted. The Biden administration has yet to make a public announcement regarding sanctions against India.
Indeed, many leaders are worried. As Mansoor Ahmed said, there are international concerns that “India may be emboldened to resort to military adventurism…punishing strikes and destabilizing incursions into Pakistan.” While the S-400 is primarily used for defense, offensive use would not be impossible.
Despite the uncertainties, one thing remains clear: the acquisition of an S-400 defense system is doing nothing to ease the tensions between India and Pakistan.
