The S-400 Against the S-500: Is India Preparing to Upgrade Its Air Shield?

Understanding the Big Differences Between Russia's Two Defence Giants

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to travel to India from December 4 to 5 in what is likely to be a high-profile visit focusing on strengthening strategic cooperation, especially in defence, nuclear energy, and oil trade, with the shadow of potential sanctions still lingering over the US. This visit raises one question: Is India negotiating for Russia's next-gen S-500 air defence?

But India Already Uses the S-400 — and It Has Proven Its Power

Indian currently-deployed Soviet Vishu-Sinai's have been useful guarding the skies over their country. This became evident during Operation Sindoor, where in an attempt to launch a coordinated swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles on Indian civil and military infrastructure, Pakistan unsuccessfully tried to hit Indian soils exactly as the outcome played out otherwise. Not a single system intruded, courtesy of an outstanding conjunction of tribal air defense encompassed of Indian, Israeli, and Russian weaponry.

Having performed this well, conversation automatically fires off in the "great power choices of India" as to whether the nation should now go ahead with S-500s, still more jam-packed with the latest technology.

Why India May Turn Its Gaze Toward S-500s

Given the impressive theatrics of S-400, the thought prevails that New Delhi would seek S-500 and give a short reverie to Russian potential. Were that an objective, the agreement would be India's single largest to date with Russia.

First, here is a simple comparison that illustrates the difference between the two systems:

This is a gist of the air defence system that will be capable of defending large territories and sectors of the national airspace.

Its integration with the Indian air defence network, the system’s lengthy arm of strike range of 400 km and altitude of 30 km, renders it capable of destroying aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and so forth.

It was built mainly to contend with tactical as well as operational threats.

Providing anti-air dominance in a region and much-needed defence of theatre for India this issued it literally a whole new weapon at the disposal of India.

🚀 S-500 Air Defense System (User May Come Request)

• This is one of the most advanced air defence systems Russia has to offer.
• It is designed to protect cities or even strategic assets or command centres
• It has a 500-600 km range and up to 180–200 km altitude for any objects it would need to intercept
• Russia hopes the new S-500 can shoot down ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons too
• Works on both the tactical and strategic lines of protection
• It would help India to counter the upcoming generation of missile systems

What Would Be The Outcome

If India manages to secure the S-500, it will translate into a significant increase in India's defensive capability, especially against the salience of hypersonic threats in the region. The system will heave a new level in India's missile shield, completing and complementing the S-400, thus providing one of the most comprehensive air defense networks in Asia.

All eyes will be on the Moscow visit of Putin in the coming days to see whether India officially seeks the product and then if Russia allows one of her closest strategic partners the same level of her most advanced technology.