This week in Prabhasakshi News Network’s special program Shaurya Path, we wanted to know from Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi (Retd) that there are reports that due to Russia-Ukraine war, there will be a delay of three years in the supply of S-400 to India from Russia and The supply of nuclear submarines has also been postponed indefinitely, what do you have to say on this? We also asked that the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia came to India and both the countries signed the ‘Pantsir Variant’ agreement to strengthen air defence, what benefit will India get from this? In response, he said that there is no doubt that the prolongation of the war has affected the defense agreements made by Russia with various countries. He said that we have to accept that India’s air defense system has not been that strong and considering the kind of conflict going on at present, India needs to immediately strengthen its air defense system. He said that this episode also shows how important complete self-reliance is in the defense sector.
Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi (Retd) said that India has been waiting for the remaining two units of the Russian S-400 air defense system for a long time. It is believed that this wait will increase further. He said delivery was initially expected to take place by 2025, but is now expected to take place by early 2026. He said the delay comes at a time when regional security remains tense, especially along the northern border with China. He said the purchase of the S-400 air defense system, considered one of the most advanced in the world, was finalized in 2018 when India and Russia signed a $5.43 billion deal for five units . He said the system is capable of tracking and neutralizing multiple air threats, including aircraft, drones and ballistic missiles at ranges up to 400 km.
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Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi ji (Retd) said that the first S-400 had reached India in December 2021. This was to be followed by delivery and operationalization of the second and third units over the next two years to strengthen India’s defense posture in both the western and eastern sectors. He said the induction of these units has been crucial in strengthening India’s air defense grid, especially given potential air threats from adversaries such as Pakistan and China. He said the delivery was delayed first due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and then due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He said the Ukraine war has seriously strained Russia’s military-industrial complex and its ability to fulfill defense contracts.
Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi Ji (Retd) said that the delay in the arrival of the remaining two S-400 units has raised concerns within the Indian Air Force, which has consistently highlighted the importance of these systems in protecting the country’s airspace. Keeping in mind the delay, the Indian Air Force and the Defense Ministry are exploring alternative solutions to ensure their preparedness, he said. This includes the possible purchase of additional air defense systems. He said the deployment of the three existing S-400 systems has enhanced India’s defensive capabilities, providing more robust surveillance in high-risk areas. He said the ongoing standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has underlined the need to maintain a strong air defense network. The delay of S-400 is a significant challenge as India aims to strengthen its deterrence capability. Additionally, he said, as China continues to invest in advanced missile systems and fifth-generation aircraft, it is important for India to maintain its strategic edge by fully deploying the S-400 system.
Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi (Retd) said that as far as the visit of the First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia to India is concerned, it was very important. He said that a major defense public sector undertaking in India has signed an agreement with ‘Rosoboronexport’ of Russia for cooperation on variants of ‘Pantsir air defense missile-gun system’. He said that the Pantsir air defense system is a platform which has been designed to protect important military and industrial centers from aerial threats and to strengthen air defense units. He said that according to the Defense Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU), the MoU between Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and ‘Rosoboronexport’ was signed during the fifth IRIGC (India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission Subgroup) in Goa recently. . He said BDL was incorporated as a public sector undertaking under the Defense Ministry in 1970. Its objective was to manufacture guided missile systems and associated equipment for the Indian Armed Forces. The headquarters of BDL is located in Hyderabad. He said that BDL in its statement said that Bharat Dynamics Limited and ‘Rosoboronexport’ of Russia signed an MoU for cooperation on Pantsir variant. He said that the agreement was signed in the presence of Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
