Russia's S‑400 deal with India faces delays but tech transfer bright spot

Deliveries of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft systems to India have been delayed by many years. Yet, despite the challenges, the Russian defense sector has witnessed some success. An agreement for servicing and producing S-400 parts in India stands out as a positive development.

Due to the war in Ukraine, Russian arms exports are declining, causing Moscow to lose numerous long-time clients who have been purchasing Russian weapons for decades. One such client is India, which has partially shifted its focus from Russian armaments to Western systems.

This shift does not extend to the S-400 anti-aircraft system. Although the agreement for its sale was signed in 2019, the delivery schedule has experienced several delays.

Despite these delays, both parties have agreed to transfer technology to India, establish service centers, and initiate the production of certain S-400 components in the country.

This arrangement provides Moscow with short-term commercial benefits and an alternative source in India for components necessary for servicing and producing the anti-aircraft system. Besides the S-400, India manufactures Russian T-90 tanks, Su-30 airplanes, and BrahMos anti-ship missiles, an evolution of the Russian P-800 Oniks.

The S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft system was developed in the 1990s as a successor to the older S-300. Essentially, the S-400 is an evolution of the S-300PMU, retaining partial backward compatibility and the ability to use older missiles.

According to Russian sources, the S-400 can combat not only aircraft and cruise missiles but also intercontinental ballistic missiles in the terminal phase of flight. The range of the S-400 is reported to vary, depending on the target and the missile used, from nearly 250 to just 25 miles.

The S-400 system has achieved several export successes. Besides Russia, it is also operated by Algeria, Belarus, China, India, and Turkey. For Turkey, acquiring the S-400 complicated its purchase of F-35 aircraft.

The war in Ukraine tested the capabilities of the S-400 system, which had previously been rated highly by Western analysts. Contrary to Russian propaganda claims, the S-400 has proven ineffective against modern Western missiles.

It is not only incapable of effectively defending protected targets but is also unable to defend itself. S-400 launchers have repeatedly fallen victim to missiles such as ATACMS fired from HIMARS launchers. One notable video even shows Storm Shadow missiles flying directly over a Russian launcher.

The system's ineffectiveness against modern Western weapons was also demonstrated in the Syrian conflict, where, when facing potential Israeli F-35I Adir aircraft, Russian systems were immediately turned off to avoid destruction.