NEW DELHI – India expects to receive MiG-29 and Su-30MKI fighter jets, aswell as S-400 air defense systems due to the need to neutralize threatsfrom Pakistan and China. Moreover, India hopes to receive theabove-mentioned aircraft and systems as soon as possible as Pakistan andChina have been modernizing their air forces lately, the Indian militarybelieve.According to the Indian military, in the event of a conflict Russian armswill deprive the enemy of a chance to achieve air superiority.Only Russia’s S-400 systems can save India
Last year, India transferred Russia the first tranche of about $800 millionas part of the S-400 contract. In March of this year, Dmitry Shugaev, theDirector General of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation(FSVTS of Russia), said that Russia would supply first S-400 system toIndia in 2021.
However, after negotiations in Moscow, Delhi expects that the first S-400system will be delivered to the country by the end of 2020. Theimplementation of the contract is to be completed in 2024 (it is assumedthat the Russian side will supply India with one S-400 complex a year).
If this is true, the world may see India’s first S-400 system at a militaryparade for India’s Republic Day, which will be held on the main avenue ofthe Indian capital on January 26, 2021.
In connection with the sharp aggravation of the situation on the controlline with China in Ladakh shortly before the visit of the Indian delegationto Moscow, a number of Russian and foreign media assumed that India wasdetermined to accelerate the implementation of arms contracts in responseto the incident on June 16.
However, according to Indian media, Delhi’s initiative is based onlong-term strategic considerations associated with the need to maintain achanging balance of power at once on two borders – with China and Pakistan.India fears Pakistsan’s and China’s military modernization
After Pakistan acquired US F-16 Block 52 fighters, and China reinforced itsown Air Force with a fifth-generation J-20 fighter of its own design, theIndian Air Force found itself in a difficult situation. In the event ofhostilities, India is likely to be forced to use its fighters both fordefensive and offensive purposes, which is a complicated goal to pursue.
The imbalance will be eliminated after the S-400 air defense system takeson the main role in protecting Indian airspace. The system will be able tomonitor territory deep into Pakistan and detect enemy aircraft as soon asthey are airborne. The S-400 will also be able to keep an eye on Chinesefighters taking off from airfields along the Tibetan plateau.
Thus, the S-400 will be able to relieve multi-purpose fighters of theIndian Air Force from the need to perform such tasks as striking groundtargets and conducting air battles with enemy fighters, Indian militaryofficials believe.
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Reportedly, three of the Russian S-400 systems will be deployed on theborder with Pakistan, while two others – on the control line with China.
Thus, the Russian S-400 systems will become a key element of the Indian airdefense system, which consists of three parts and includes Indian-madeAkash anti-aircraft missile systems.
On June 16, in the high mountains of Ladakh in the Himalayas, ahand-to-hand combat took place with the participation of Indian and Chinesemilitary personnel. The fight lasted for hours. According to media reports,the parties, without using small arms, were fighting using rocks, sticksand spiky batons. As a result of the fight, 20 Indian soldiers were killed,including a battalion commander.
New Delhi announced an intention to purchase S-400 air defense system fromRussia back in 2015. The contract for the supply of the S-400 “Triumf”anti-aircraft missile system worth $5.43 billion was signed during RussianPresident Vladimir Putin’s visit to India in 2018.
India’s intention to purchase S-400 systems from Russia ruin the country’srelations with the USA. A spokesman for Donald Trump’s administration saidearlier that India’s decision to acquire long-range S-400 anti-aircraftmissile systems from Russia would have serious consequences for defenseties between Washington and New Delhi.
In April 2019, Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitaraman said that Indiaexplained its point of view on the acquisition of the S-400 from Moscow toWashington and expected that Washington would not impose sanction on Indiabecause of the intention.
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