Amidst Delivery Delays, Russia Offers ToT and Local Manufacturing of S-400 Components to Mitigate Supply Chain Woes

Russia has proposed a transfer of technology (ToT) to India for the S-400 air defence system, alongside an offer for local manufacturing of system components. This offer comes as Russia faces delays in delivering the final two squadrons of the S-400 system to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The proposal is intended to allow India to produce S-400 parts domestically, facilitating both replenishment of existing systems and potential future expansion of its inventory.

In 2018, India contracted to purchase five squadrons of the S-400 system from Russia for approximately $5.43 billion. Three of these squadrons have been delivered and are currently operational, strategically positioned along India's northern and eastern borders.

These deployed systems have been integrated into India's air defence network and have been utilized in training exercises, significantly improving the country's ability to defend against aerial threats.

However, the delivery schedule for the remaining two squadrons is unclear, with ongoing geopolitical and logistical difficulties related to the conflict in Ukraine cited as contributing factors.

In an effort to address India's increasing focus on defence self-sufficiency, Russia has put forward the ToT proposal. This would enable the local production of crucial components for the S-400 system.

This approach supports India's broader "Make in India" initiative, which aims to boost domestic defence production capabilities and lessen the country's dependence on international arms suppliers.

The successful implementation of this offer could lead to the establishment of an Indian production line for S-400 components, bolstering air defence readiness and ensuring a consistent supply of vital missile parts.

The S-400, known in NATO reporting as the SA-21 Growler, is a mobile, surface-to-air missile (SAM) system capable of engaging aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, and even ballistic missiles.

The potential acceptance of Russia's ToT offer would present several complex considerations. These include the effective integration of the transferred technology, the establishment of localized supply chains for necessary materials, and the negotiation of intellectual property rights.

Additionally, the wider geopolitical landscape, including sanctions imposed on Russia by Western nations, could pose challenges to the sourcing of essential components directly from Russian manufacturers. These factors will likely be a key part of the discussion and approval process.

While evaluating the Russian proposal, India continues to develop its own indigenous long-range air defence system, known as Project Kusha, managed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Project Kusha seeks to create a system with performance characteristics similar to the S-400. The DRDO project envisions a multi-layered missile defence architecture, fully integrated with India's existing air defence infrastructure, ultimately reducing the nation's reliance on imported defence systems. The system, with an expected range exceeding 350 km, is anticipated to be deployable by 2028-29.

 

[sanket]

That's good development. Western countries, instead of sanctioning, should look at how they too can offer ToT (Transfer of Technology) in various defense projects for Bharat. MRFA and foreign engine development partnerships are some of the projects where Western countries need to give ToT rather than imposing sanctions. That will also make the US think about offering the F-35 fighter jet.

 

[Abhishek Kumar]

Throw money and time at our own project, Kusha, as we will make mistakes while developing it, but we will learn and can create a better system than the S-400.

That is it. It looks like their spies have noticed Project Kusha; that is why they are offering it to us now.

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

First, transfer the remaining two batteries of S400 and then talk... Russia talks too much, and when it comes to delivery, they do nothing... No technology transferred for SU30, Kilo-class submarines... BrahMos engines are still coming from Russia, etc.... Russia has always used India and gains billions of dollars....

 

[youarefake]

First, transfer the remaining two batteries of S400 and then talk... Russia talks too much, and when it comes to delivery, they do nothing... No technology transferred for SU30, Kilo-class submarines... BrahMos engines are still coming from Russia, etc.... Russia has always used India and gains billions of dollars....

The war will soon end and all the sanctions are going to be lifted, everything will be back to normal very soon if Zel handover the ownership of all the mines to US.

 

[The Presence]

Seems like we are very close of developing Kusha.

 

[obiwankenubi jedi]

If it's being offered for full ToT we must go for it, there is no question!

 

[Spectator]

The transfer of technology deal for the S-400 system offers India several key advantages. It enables domestic manufacturing of components, reducing costs and enhancing self-reliance in defense.
The ToT will allow easier maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. It also boosts strategic autonomy by reducing dependency on foreign suppliers and strengthens India's defense industry for future projects. Additionally, the deal deepens defense ties with Russia, reinforcing a long-term strategic partnership.

 

[Spectator]

We have our own long-range air defence program, but this deal has its own merits. We will not need to rely on Russia for spare parts, and we can also use this opportunity to gain more experience on sensitive technologies like this.

 

[Spectator]

First, transfer the remaining two batteries of S400 and then talk... Russia talks too much, and when it comes to delivery, they do nothing... No technology transferred for SU30, Kilo-class submarines... BrahMos engines are still coming from Russia, etc.... Russia has always used India and gains billions of dollars....

I understand your concern. But, just think, they are fighting a huge war. So, delays will happen, yet they are trying their best.

It's not like the delay of the GE F404 engines. It slowed down the production and induction of the LCA Tejas Mk1 into the Indian Air Force, affecting modernization efforts. This delay increased dependence on older aircraft, leading to operational challenges. It also extended the program's development timeline, raised costs, and affected India's goal of becoming self-reliant in defense manufacturing.

The S400 delay, however, didn't cause almost no damage to our forces at all, so just get your priorities right.

 

[Neal.B]

We must go for it if 100% ToT is offered. We can manufacture more squadrons if required on our own. Availability of spare parts will be at a higher percentage. We can take inspiration for further variants of Project Kusha.

 

[Sumon Roy]

India should go both S-400 and S-500 with TOT. That will be better and best.

 

[alpha numeric]

Throw money and time at our own project, Kusha, as we will make mistakes while developing it, but we will learn and can create a better system than the S-400.

That is it. It looks like their spies have noticed Project Kusha; that is why they are offering it to us now.

"Better system"? Based on what past performance are you claiming that? Or is that just the usual jingoistic BS? We will most definitely come up with a system; whether it's better depends on how it performs in the field. America's Patriot system wasn't as good as it is now, but with time, field experience, and iterative development, they've gotten a lot better.
But, of course, you lot will clap like monkeys even if we come up with subpar systems.
Tragedy of low/unrealistic expectations.

 

[alpha numeric]

We have our own long-range air defence program, but this deal has its own merits. We will not need to rely on Russia for spare parts, and we can also use this opportunity to gain more experience on sensitive technologies like this.

Exactly, the benefits of a domestic system far outweigh. But if we were an intelligent nation, we'd do both: acquire the ToT and carry on with our domestic R&D on Kusha, and hopefully incorporate technology from the S400 into Kusha.

I've seen Indian officials boast about not stealing IP, as if the moral supremacy of the act gives them some sort of quantifiable superiority. Indian officials are generally pathetic, but that kind of self-castrating mindset adds cost, increases development time, and creates a steeper road for technology adoption. But ideological stupidity is India's strong suit. I've seen Indians criticize Chinese turbofan engine development in the same vein, as if the Chinese just stopped their development once they'd localized the tech they copied from the Russians.

Remember folks, everything is fair in love and war. It's as simple as that. Fuck foreign IPs if they don't give it. We need to steal like the Chinese do. Better to be a thief that serves your people than a useless, self-flagellating, moralist.

 

[Anonymus]

First, transfer the remaining two batteries of S400 and then talk... Russia talks too much, and when it comes to delivery, they do nothing... No technology transferred for SU30, Kilo-class submarines... BrahMos engines are still coming from Russia, etc.... Russia has always used India and gains billions of dollars....

Will India transfer 100% technology if someone buys Tejas, Arihant, Astra, etc.? I think, big no. So, something which we can't afford to provide, then why [are we] expecting others to give us their full tech?

 

[Sandeep]

India should definitely receive the ToT and allow local production of the missiles. This will save us a lot of money in the long term if we can manufacture the missile and any key w saw try technology, parts, components, radar, software etc rather than buying and making expensive imports. If we don’t make this deal it would make us heavily reliant on Russia for the next 30+ years which is still expensive.

Also project Kusha is another 100% indigenous SAM which is to operate in the same way as the S400. However, it will still take a long time to 100% indigenously design, develop and manufacture the SAM. We will also need to carry out numerous amounts of tests and we will need to integrate and install it on our air defence system which covers a wide range of a numerous amount of SAM like the Akash, MR-SAM and the BMD systems. It will also take around 8-10 years before the SAM system will be online and ready so we should.

 

[coke]

That's what they want. When they realized that their customer is developing its own S-400 under Kusha, they suddenly offered ToT, thereby maintaining reliance on their systems, and their market remains in place. The best is to accept it for maintaining the S-400 and carrying on R&D on Kusha.

 

[मित्र]

That's huge if Russia is serious!

Absorb it and integrate Kusha and S400 together, it will extremely boost India's ADAA capabilities.

 

[मित्र]

India should go both S-400 and S-500 with TOT. That will be better and best.

Better do incremental improvement to S400 and Kusha to S500 level and above.

 

[Aravind Raveendran]

We must take up the offer and imbibe the knowledge acquired while we must redouble our efforts in our indigenous endeavours so that we can shift to kusha maybe in the next decade or so.

 

[मित्र]

Seems like we are very close of developing Kusha.

Really?
Developments does not happen overnight.
That ignorance is the reason we are mediocre in absorbing techs after so many TOT opportunities.

 

[Pankaj]

It's a good offer from Russia, but it would be better if India asked for joint production of the S-500 with full ToT. When India begins the production of the S-400 in the coming 2-3 years, it would become obsolete in the next decade, as is the case with the S-300. But the S-500 will remain competitive in the next decade as well.

Nowadays, missile technologies with range enhancement are one of the fastest-growing technologies in the world. Almost every fortnight, we hear about a new missile with enhanced range, and even guided rockets are coming with a 250-300km range.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

I'm sure new Bharat will ask for S500 tech. We already have Kusha which far exceeds S400.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Seems like we are very close of developing Kusha.

New Bharat should ask for S500 TOT and forgo S400 as project Kushas capability far exceeds S400.

 

[beencensured]

"Better system"? Based on what past performance are you claiming that? Or is that just the usual jingoistic BS? We will most definitely come up with a system; whether it's better depends on how it performs in the field. America's Patriot system wasn't as good as it is now, but with time, field experience, and iterative development, they've gotten a lot better.
But, of course, you lot will clap like monkeys even if we come up with subpar systems.
Tragedy of low/unrealistic expectations.

Do you know about India's experience in developing the Barak 8 and being able to defeat Yakhont-type missiles? According to DRDO chief V. K. Saraswat, as told to The Economic Times, "More than 70 per cent of the content in the missile being developed with Israel would be indigenous," including the dual-pulse motor, which came from India. So, the statement is rather false in that India has good experience in developing surface-to-air missiles. Akash is also one of the best surface-to-air missiles in the world.