How India Could Effectively Counter Two-front Stealth Threat from Pakistan's J-35A and China's J-20 with S-500 Acquisition

India is facing an increasingly complex security situation, with the potential of a coordinated two-front threat from Pakistan and China.

The advancement of stealth aircraft technology in the region, highlighted by China's operational J-20 fighters and Pakistan's reported interest in acquiring Chinese J-35A jets, presents a significant challenge to Indian air superiority.

In response, strategic experts are pointing to Russia's next-generation S-500 "Prometheus" air defence system as a powerful countermeasure to safeguard Indian airspace.

Recent reports, though currently denied by Pakistan's Defence Minister, have indicated that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is exploring the purchase of 30-40 J-35A stealth fighters from China, with potential delivery by 2030.

This fifth-generation aircraft, featuring a low radar signature and advanced electronic systems, could enhance Pakistan's ability to conduct surprise strikes against India's critical military and civilian infrastructure.

This potential acquisition complements the existing deployment of China’s advanced J-20 stealth fighters at airbases near the Line of Actual Control (LAC), creating a formidable dual-front challenge for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

To address this evolving threat landscape, India is strengthening its multi-layered integrated air defence system.

A potential acquisition of the Russian S-500 Prometheus system is being seen as a crucial next step. This state-of-the-art platform, which is designed to work alongside the already inducted S-400 "Triumf" systems, would provide a significant boost to India's defensive capabilities and strategic deterrence.

The S-500 Prometheus: A Generational Leap in Air Defence​

Developed by Russia’s Almaz-Antey Concern, the S-500 is a cutting-edge air and missile defence system designed to intercept a wide spectrum of aerial threats. It represents a significant advancement over its highly capable predecessor, the S-400.

The first S-500 regiment entered service with the Russian military in 2021, and while Russia has not yet exported the system, it has indicated that India could be a prospective first partner.

Key capabilities of the S-500 system include:

• Anti-Stealth and Ballistic Missile Defence: The S-500 is engineered to detect, track, and engage low-observable targets like stealth aircraft at ranges up to 400-500 km. It can also intercept ballistic missiles at a range of 600 km and altitudes reaching into near space (180-200 km), making it a credible defence against Pakistan's Shaheen and Ababeel missiles, as well as some of China's DF-series missiles.
• Hypersonic and Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Capabilities: The system is designed to counter hypersonic weapons travelling at extreme speeds. Furthermore, its ability to target low-orbit satellites poses a direct threat to an adversary's reliance on space-based assets for navigation, surveillance, and communication, a critical component of modern warfare.
• Rapid Response and Mobility: With a reaction time of under four seconds and mounted on a highly mobile wheeled chassis, the S-500 can be rapidly deployed across India’s vast borders, from the western front with Pakistan to the northern borders with China.

Building an Impenetrable Air Defence Shield​

The strategic value of the S-500 lies in its ability to be integrated with India's existing air defence network.

By deploying two to three S-500 regiments alongside the five S-400 units already in service, India could establish a nearly impenetrable air defence shield. This network would protect major cities, industrial centers, and vital military installations.

This Russian system would be further complemented by India's own indigenous developments. The DRDO is actively developing "Project Kusha," a long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) system.

With interceptors planned for ranges of 150 km, 250 km, and 350 km, Project Kusha is designed to be integrated into the IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), creating a seamless, multi-layered defence.

The combination of the S-500's unparalleled range and anti-stealth features with the S-400 and the indigenous Akash, Barak-8, and Project Kusha systems would provide India with a robust defence against the combined stealth air threat from its neighbours, ensuring it maintains a strategic edge in the region.

While discussions for the S-500 remain at a preliminary stage, its potential acquisition represents a critical component of India's strategy to deter aggression and secure its skies for the foreseeable future.

 

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[Flanker]

Nice! Buy a few of them and make them in India.

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

Only buying air defence system will not solve the problem. We need a 5th gen jet too. India should buy SU57 now. IAF needs 114 jets under MRFA. Buy 60 Rafael and 60 SU57. This is the best solution. We can buy few extra S400 systems too. We don't need S500 as we are also building our own system.

 

[king dorm]

Only buying air defence system will not solve the problem. We need a 5th gen jet too. India should buy SU57 now. IAF needs 114 jets under MRFA. Buy 60 Rafael and 60 SU57. This is the best solution. We can buy few extra S400 systems too. We don't need S500 as we are also building our own system.

Even Russia doesn't have a single complete squadron of Su-57, dude. No one knows how it will perform in a combat situation. And we are working on Project Kusha, which is almost equivalent to S-400, so buying more S-400 would not be a smart choice; instead, getting more S-500 will help us more.

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

Don't waste our time and money on S-500 when Project Kushal is in an advanced stage. J-35 is a re-engineered, copied version of F-35, which itself is a useless aircraft. Our existing radar systems can easily detect it, which was evident from the latest incident in Thiruvananthapuram.

 

[Pankaj]

No need to buy this expensive Air defence system. Keep focus on indigenous systems, which are quite good, inexpensive, and upgradable. As far as China and Pakistan are concerned, 5 units of S-400 are enough. Put this money into developing a fighter jet engine (Kaveri), which will be the main deterrence to all upcoming threats. In a recent skirmish, we showed our air defence capacity. Now, just upgrade these while inducting the Kush Project.

 

[Immortal Soul]

This is literally the best thing. But Project Kusha is on par with the S-500, at least the Mk-3 version. The only thing is the range of Mk-3 is 350 km, much less than the S-500, which is necessary because we need to intercept jets much before those jets use their standoff weapons against us. Let's see how things will go 🤞

 

[Diganta Ghosh]

The time it would take the S-500 to be delivered, Project Kusha will already be in advanced stages of development or in the process of induction. If the S-500 is needed so much, use the budget to rather expedite Project Kusha.

 

[Sami Smith]

S-500 is not a solution to stealth jets. It needs quick-reacting hypersonic SAMs and dedicated radars on the ground, and a few squadrons of stealth jets with 300+ km air-to-air missiles.

 

[indigenous_29]

Another multibillion dollar deal with Russia would likely trigger CAATSA.

 

[Bhishma]

J35 deal is off. China is not going to give it to them. They are waking up to their betrayal.

 

[Paki_Finder]

Nice! Buy a few of them and make them in India.

India must buy three regiments of S-500: one for the Siliguri Corridor, one for Ladakh, and one for Rajasthan. Moreover, Russia has invited India to co-design and co-produce the S-550, work on which must be started immediately.

 

[Jabberwock]

I highly doubt the Russian claims that the S-500 can intercept stealth aircraft. First of all, their own Su-57 is not a stealth aircraft, and they are marketing it as such. The S-500 initially was marketed as an anti-satellite weapon. For an anti-stealth SAM system, it's better to have interceptors with dual AESA and IIR seeker, like David's Sling.

 

[Gentleman]

J35 deal is off. China is not going to give it to them. They are waking up to their betrayal.

Where did u get this news, sir?

 

[Sandeep]

The S500 is more of a ballistic missile defence shield that can intercept a high altitude incoming missile. While the missile might be good it will be very expensive to buy.

Instead India should continue to focus on developing and deploying our own BMD shield which will be better and cheaper. They should increase production of the missiles and deploy them quickly so that our borders are secure and safe.

 

[Bhishma]

Where did u get this news, sir?

Connect the Dots

During the 1971 war, China wanted to jump in but was kept at bay by Russia. During Op Sindoor, despite having 60,000 troops deployed at the border, they did not make any hostile moves.

Pakistan, with the CIA, orchestrated this whole drama. They hijacked the train themselves, blamed it on India. Then they did Pahalgam to make a convincing story with the Chinese. Why did they put F-16s right next to Gwadar? Their lifeline is Karachi. Shouldn't they put their fighters there? Why did they do it? Gwadar was never on our list. This is what Pakistan and the CIA planned: drag India into a low-scale war, then do a false flag and destroy Gwadar. China and the USA have diverging interests in Gwadar. For India, it doesn't matter. We can destroy that thing in less than half an hour. For the USA, it's HUGE. They will never allow the completion of CPEC.

America's primary containment strategy for China is choking through the Malacca Straits. With Gwadar, they can't do it easily. In a war between India and Pakistan, India would never target Gwadar. Why? Because doing that will give the perfect excuse for China to jump in.

Now China has seen that Pakistan has once again gone back firmly into America's lap. Why would they give their cutting-edge tech? If they give J-35, then it will be reverse-engineered and countermeasures developed in no time. See how the Brits are closely guarding the F-35. They don't even want to take an umbrella for that poor thing. So this leads to two logical conclusions:

1. China will not give J-35 to a country with a huge American presence.
2. If they give J-35, you can guarantee it will be worthless junk.

 

[Bhishma]

I highly doubt the Russian claims that the S-500 can intercept stealth aircraft. First of all, their own Su-57 is not a stealth aircraft, and they are marketing it as such. The S-500 initially was marketed as an anti-satellite weapon. For an anti-stealth SAM system, it's better to have interceptors with dual AESA and IIR seeker, like David's Sling.

It's possible. With VHF radars, you can know where they are located. Then, in the terminal phase, you use IRST. IRST will work within a 60km range. So, all you need to do is input an approximate coordinate detected using VHF. Then, in the terminal phase, it will use IRST and take it down.

 

[Ghost of Kohima]

In his interview, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh already implied the need for capacity building, or that until we have our own equipment, a 5th-gen fighter or S500 can be purchased, but that would be a decision of the IAF. In case Project Kusha comes into action, say 8-10 years later, surely the IAF might consider this!

We already set up coordination between S-400 and other SAMs.

 

[Vishwanath Vijay Thomre]

We are already running very very late in procurement. This is just one fine example. When Russia is our most reliable partner and if we want to go with Russian defense equipment's which is very important and logical as our all platforms are very well gelled with Russian defense systems. The offer from Russia for co-production of S-500, SU57 is at least a year back. What were the constraints one year back? if we would have gone for these platforms a year back the things would have been materialized to some extent by now. The things would have been seen on grounds probably. We cannot expect things to happen for us overnight as Russia is also going through precarious times. Still we are in discussion stage only, lets hope these further delays do not cost us majorly in long run.

 

[Ghost of Kohima]

Don't waste our time and money on S-500 when Project Kushal is in an advanced stage. J-35 is a re-engineered, copied version of F-35, which itself is a useless aircraft. Our existing radar systems can easily detect it, which was evident from the latest incident in Thiruvananthapuram.

J-35, like any other Chinese aircraft, is heavily copied from Western designs. But that doesn't make them useless. Surely, they aren't superior like the F-35, but even if they're one-third of the F-35's in action, it would be too late for us. (So we need both anti-stealth aircraft and a proven stealth detection system to avoid such issues.)

S-500 might complement Project Kusha. Kusha SAMs are supposed to be inducted in all eight squadrons of the IAF, which will be a major cover. S-500 might just act as a stop-gap measure until indigenous systems are deployed.

 

[Vishwanath Vijay Thomre]

In his interview, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh already implied the need for capacity building, or that until we have our own equipment, a 5th-gen fighter or S500 can be purchased, but that would be a decision of the IAF. In case Project Kusha comes into action, say 8-10 years later, surely the IAF might consider this!

We already set up coordination between S-400 and other SAMs.

The procurement should be on war front, no doubt that we are very great in development and indigenization of our platforms. But still we are facing challenges with some of our platforms where the success is still a long way to go. IAF should not be adamant as seen they are very very choosy. The question is at present do we have any other option to SU57, the answer is no. The 5th gen SU57 is a very good option definitely better than F35 which will be very dangerous to procure. We have to move forward as we have seen that we have made gold out of the foreign platforms by increasing their limitations with our skills.

 

[Raja Raja Cholan]

Whatever missile defence systems we make in India and intend to procure, Indian defence must have them in huge numbers to sustain prolonged war; it could possibly be a two-pronged war too. The number of missiles Iran continuously strikes at Israel tells us that Iran has a huge stockpile of various types of missiles, including hypersonic missiles, in their arsenal.