India early Thursday successfully thwarted multiple bids by Pakistan to escalate the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and used its state-of-the-art S-400 air defence missile system to intercept and shoot down targets moving towards the border areas.
According to sources, the Indian Air Force S-400 Sudarshan Chakra systems were used extensively last night and early morning against Pakistani targets moving towards India.
"The targets were successfully neutralised in the operation," sources said, signalling India's heightened preparedness to deal with Pakistani escalation.
What is the S-400 system?
The S-400 Triumf is a long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by Russia's Almaz Central Design Bureau. It is widely regarded as one of the most advanced air defence systems in the world, capable of tracking, targeting and destroying a variety of aerial threats—including aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles—at various altitudes and ranges.
In 2018, India had signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia to procure five S-400 units, with deliveries beginning in late 2021. Despite US warnings of sanctions under CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act), India went ahead with the deal, citing national security imperatives.
Currently, India has received three squadrons of the air defence system which have been operationalised and deployed along the borders. These are the systems being used actively by India to neutralise threats from Pakistan.
How S-400 gives India superior defence capabilities?
India’s deployment of the S-400 system has added a significant edge to its defence abilities in the ongoing war with Pakistan. A Pentagon spy master had told US lawmakers in 2022 that India intends to deploy the system to defend itself against threats from its western front. Here are the features of the S-400 system:
Multi-Target Tracking: The S-400 can track up to 300 targets simultaneously and engage 36 of them at once, giving it a huge edge in dense threat environments like active battle zones.
Range and Altitude: It has a maximum range of 400 km and can engage targets at altitudes from 30 metres to 30,000 metres, making it effective against both low-flying drones and high-altitude aircraft or missiles.
Multi-Missile Compatibility
The system can fire four different types of missiles:
40N6E (400 km)
48N6 (250 km)
9M96E2 (120 km)
9M96E (40 km)
This flexibility allows layered defence against multiple threat types.
360-Degree Coverage: Unlike older systems, the S-400 offers complete 360-degree radar and missile coverage, ideal for defending critical areas like Delhi, Mumbai or military bases.
Radar and Targeting Systems: The system includes the 91N6E Big Bird surveillance radar, 92N6E Grave Stone engagement radar, and 96L6E acquisition radar, all of which work together to detect and eliminate threats even under electronic jamming.
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