India Deploys S-400 Sudarshan Air Defense System to Strengthen Aerial Security Network

New Delhi: India has deployed the S-400 Sudarshan long-range air defense missile system to enhance protection against aircraft, drones, and missile threats across strategic airspace sectors.

The S-400 system is procured from Russia under a $5.4 billion defense contract signed in October 2018 and is designed to detect aerial targets at distances of up to 600 kilometers and engage threats at ranges of up to 400 kilometers.

Defense officials say the system strengthens India’s layered air defense capability by countering fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and certain categories of ballistic missiles.

India has ordered five S-400 regiments, with several units already inducted into the Indian Air Force and deployed in strategically sensitive regions. The remaining units are expected to be delivered in phased installments.

Each S-400 regiment typically includes surveillance and engagement radars, command-and-control vehicles and multiple launcher units capable of firing different interceptor missiles simultaneously.

Officials state that the system is integrated with India’s Integrated Air Command and Control System, allowing real-time data sharing with other air defense platforms and radar networks to improve tracking accuracy and response speed.

The acquisition attracted international attention due to potential sanctions under the United States’ CAATSA legislation. However, Indian authorities maintained that the purchase was necessary for national security and strategic defense autonomy.

With the operational deployment of the S-400 Sudarshan system, India aims to strengthen its multi-layered air defense network and improve preparedness against evolving aerial threats in the region.