<h3 data-start="256" data-end="305">India&rsquo;s S-400: Between Triumph and Tensions</h3>
In the heat of Operation Sindoor, the <a title="India Defence" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/defence/india-russia-to-boost-defence-ties-further/17503" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian</a> Air Force turned to a <a title="Russia" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/defence/russia-india-defence-talks-continue-on-s-400-deal/12532" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russian</a> machine that has already acquired near-mythical status &mdash; the S-400 Triumf. Stationed in Adampur, the long-range air defence system went into action no fewer than eleven times, proving both its speed and lethality. It reportedly knocked out Pakistan&rsquo;s prized Saab-2000 airborne early warning system at a staggering 315 kilometres, crippled JF-17 and F-16 fighters on the ground and in the air, and even neutralised a Chinese-built LY-80 battery in Lahore and an HQ-9 in Karachi.
For ordinary Indians, this was the first taste of how cutting-edge air defence works in a real conflict. For defence planners, it was a vindication of one of the costliest acquisitions in India&rsquo;s history: a $5.4 billion deal signed in 2018 for five regiments of the Russian-built system. Moscow has now confirmed six S-400 units will be supplied to India by 2026, cementing New Delhi&rsquo;s position among the select few to operate the &ldquo;Triumf&rdquo;.
<h3 data-start="1322" data-end="1349">Why the S-400 Matters</h3>
The S-400 (SA-21 Growler) is no ordinary missile shield. Developed in the late Cold War years to counter NATO&rsquo;s Patriot systems, it remains one of the most advanced surface-to-air defences in existence. Its missiles, travelling at blistering speeds of up to Mach 14, can engage stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and even ballistic missiles on the edge of space. Its radar can track up to 600 kilometres, giving operators a window into enemy skies long before an adversary even crosses the border.
A single battery &mdash; with eight launchers, a command centre and powerful radar &mdash; costs around $1.25 billion, making it a luxury few nations can afford. Yet countries as diverse as China, Turkey and Belarus have invested in it, often in the teeth of US sanctions.
<h3 data-start="2136" data-end="2164">ALSO READ: https://www.benefitnews24.com/opinion/iron-dome-s-true-test-amid-iran-s-missile-barrage/14136</h3>
<h3 data-start="2136" data-end="2164">Competitors and Rivals</h3>
But the S-400 does not rule the skies uncontested. Its rivals are equally formidable, each a story in its own right.
<ul data-start="2286" data-end="3055">
<li data-start="2286" data-end="2467">
THAAD (USA): Deployed in South Korea and the Gulf, it specialises in intercepting ballistic missiles during their terminal dive, with a track record of near-perfect success.
</li>
<li data-start="2468" data-end="2638">
David&rsquo;s Sling (Israel&ndash;US): Designed for medium-range rockets, it complements the Iron Dome and Arrow systems, creating Israel&rsquo;s much-envied multi-layered defence.
</li>
<li data-start="2639" data-end="2782">
Aster 30 (France&ndash;Italy): Used by European and Asian militaries, its sleek missiles can engage fast jets and theatre ballistic missiles.
</li>
<li data-start="2783" data-end="2927">
HQ-9 (China): A Chinese adaptation of the Russian S-300, it provides Beijing with a credible shield though less capable than the Triumf.
</li>
<li data-start="2928" data-end="3055">
Barak-8 (India&ndash;Israel): Developed with DRDO, this naval system has become India&rsquo;s indigenous answer for shorter ranges.
</li>
</ul>
Each of these reflects its nation&rsquo;s strategic anxieties &mdash; Iran and North Korea for the US, Gaza for Israel, NATO for Russia, and Pakistan for India.
ALSO READ: https://www.benefitnews24.com/opinion/india-s-operation-sindoor-sets-new-deterrence-line/10959
<h3 data-start="3214" data-end="3242">Beyond the Battlefield</h3>
For India, the S-400 is more than just steel and silicon. It represents strategic autonomy &mdash; the ability to deter both China and Pakistan without relying solely on Western technology. It also brings political baggage: US sanctions loom over Russian arms deals, and integrating the S-400 with India&rsquo;s Western-supplied aircraft remains a challenge.
Yet, when the system thundered into action during Operation Sindoor, those debates seemed distant. Soldiers on the ground saw only its radar screens lighting up and missiles streaking skyward. Citizens saw a shield protecting their skies. Strategists saw a balance tilting, however briefly, in India&rsquo;s favour.
By 2026, when all six units are in place, India will possess one of the densest and most diverse air defence networks in the world &mdash; a web where Russian, Israeli, indigenous and possibly Western technologies intersect. Whether this mix ensures invulnerability or creates complexity will be tested not in headlines, but in the unforgiving arena of the next conflict.

S-400 paraded and tried in operational field

With S-400 deliveries due by 2026, India’s skies may redefine air defence in Asia

India’s S-400 gamble reshapes defence

With S-400 deliveries due by 2026, India’s skies may redefine air defence in Asia

September 23, 2025 | 15:46 IST