NEW DELHI – According to journalist, foreign affairs analyst and militaryobserver Rakesh Krishnan Simha the Russian S-400 Triumf are currently themost powerful anti-aircraft and anti-missile system in service. He pointedout that the S-400 has been modelled on the famous S-75 missile thatbrought down the American U-2 spy plane over Russia in 1960 at the heightof the cold war.
India, China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are keen to have the S-400 in theirarsenal because the missile system is extremely accurate and highly lethal.”With a tracking range of 600 km; the ability to destroy hostile aerialtargets at a range of up to 400 km and altitude of 30 km at a blisteringspeed of 17,000 km an hour, the S-400 is a truly lethal air defenseweapon,” he said.
US Arms Service Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry had in May 2018 claimedthat the US administration, as well as the Congress, was concerned aboutthe S-400 missiles. “There is concern that any country and not just Indiathat acquires that system will complicate our ability to work towardsinteroperability together,” he said.
Simha explained that S-400 is almost a strategic non-nuclear missile and insuch deals, the buyer and seller have greater interest. Moreover, Russianmade weapons have proven to have longevity and the S-400 could serve theIndian armed forces for the next few decades.
The US also is eyeing the lucrative Indian defence market and any majordeal with Russia will be a roadblock. Since India is one of the biggestweapons importers, so other countries too look forward to it beforefinalising any major deal.
Once India acquires and deploys the S-400, the entire power equation withPakistan, which has been a US ally for decades, will change. Simha claimedthat the S-400 will turn a defensive system into an offensive system. Indiawill be able to track and neutralise any Pakistani aerial threat – be it afighter-bomber or a missile – by deploying “just three S-400 battalions”, asituation which the US will under no circumstances accept without protest.
Several US lawmakers have raised their voice against Turkey, a NATO member,getting the S-400 missiles from Russia. Turkey is also in the process ofacquiring the US-made F-35 stealth fighters and US official fear the S-400may expose the jet’s secret capabilities and vulnerabilities as the missileis capable of shooting down “stealth” aircraft.