India Considers Additional S-400 Squadrons while Advancing Its Indigenous 'Project Kusha' System, Effectively Fortifying China-Pak Borders

The Indian government is reportedly evaluating the acquisition of one to two additional squadrons of the Russian-made S-400 'Triumf' air defence system.

This potential expansion comes as India continues to strengthen its air defence capabilities along its borders with China and Pakistan, while simultaneously pushing forward with its ambitious indigenous missile program, 'Project Kusha'.

This strategic consideration builds upon a foundational 2018 agreement with Russia, valued at $5.43 billion, for the purchase of five S-400 squadrons.

Known in Indian service as the “Sudarshan Chakra,” the system is a highly advanced, mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) platform developed by Russia’s Almaz-Antey.

It is designed to detect and neutralise a wide array of aerial threats—including fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles—at an operational range of up to 400 kilometres and altitudes reaching 30 kilometres.

Currently, three of the five contracted S-400 squadrons have been delivered and are operationally deployed. These units are strategically positioned to guard critical areas, with one securing the vital Siliguri Corridor near the China border, another in the Punjab region to cover the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and a third deployed along the western frontier.

However, the delivery schedule for the remaining two squadrons has been adjusted due to geopolitical factors. Originally expected by 2024, the completion of the order is now anticipated by 2026, a delay attributed to supply chain pressures on Russia's defence industry following the conflict in Ukraine.

High-level discussions, including those during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow in July 2024, have reportedly focused on accelerating this timeline.

The S-400 system is a cornerstone of India's multi-layered air defence network and is fully integrated with the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). This network allows for centralised command and comprehensive situational awareness.

The S-400's technology enables it to track as many as 100 aerial targets and engage up to 36 of them simultaneously, providing a formidable defence posture against potential adversaries.

Its presence serves as a significant deterrent, particularly when compared to the Chinese-made HQ-9 systems used by Pakistan, which have a shorter range.

In parallel with these foreign acquisitions, India is heavily invested in developing its own long-range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) system under 'Project Kusha'.

Spearheaded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), this project aims to create a system with capabilities that could eventually rival next-generation platforms like Russia's S-500 'Prometheus'.

This initiative is a central part of the government's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) policy, which seeks to enhance domestic defence production and reduce dependency on foreign military hardware.

In May 2022, the Cabinet Committee on Security granted the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of five squadrons of the Project Kusha system for the IAF, at an estimated cost of ₹21,700 crore ($2.6 billion). The long-term plan reportedly includes inducting a total of ten squadrons.

Despite the progress, both paths face distinct challenges.

The reliance on the S-400 has been complicated by international pressures, including the past threat of U.S. sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which India has navigated through diplomatic channels.

Meanwhile, Project Kusha must overcome significant technical hurdles, including the development of advanced radar systems and reliable interceptor vehicles, to meet its ambitious deployment timeline of 2028-2029.

 

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[Mc Addy]

Russia is trouble, Do a TOT

 

[Surfer]

We need 5 more to cover the entire country. Kusha will take another 5 years at least, going by the speed.

 

[sanket]

Instead need to buy S-500 or S-550

 

[Flanker]

Russia should transfer some ToT so we can make them in India

 

[Radha Ramanan]

The S-500 is more of an anti-satellite weapon. In fact, when we got the S-400, our aim was to get missiles that had long range and were capable of taking out AWACS and ballistic missiles. So, Russia is offering us the S-500 with the anti-satellite capability. Russia has poured billions into the development of anti-ballistic missiles during the Cold War, and all the tech would have been ported to the S-500 system. But the thing to note is it will be given to China as well, as Russia cannot say no to China after this bonhomie in the Ukraine war. There are news that the S-500 is not for sale still.

As it stands today, we have all the technology to make an equal to the S-400. One regiment costs $1 billion! Just imagine the savings and the tech we can develop with that money. We can always get tech from Israel, that is, if that brush-haired fellow in the US does not interfere! The greatest plus point in the S-400 is that it has many radars operating in different frequencies to catch stealth targets: X, S, L, VHF, and UHF band. All these radar data are data-fused to get a common picture. It's difficult for today's stealth aircraft like the F-35 and J-20 to escape VHF and UHF radars.

We have made AESA radars on all the higher radar bands, and it's not a big deal. We do not have the tech for VHF and UHF radars that are being imported from Russia and Israel, and made here. The trick is to combine all these to make an effective system. Again, the command and control stuff and data linking are also there. After all, we made the IACCS and many other networks and the Akashteer systems, so we do have the capacity to go desi. It will reap benefits in the long run, as we have found out in the Pahalgam encounter.

 

[Jabberwock]

DRDO already has expertise, as it modified the original 70km Barak-8 for the Navy and extended its range. So, M1 with a booster is the most likely scenario on a proven platform.

 

[Dr]

Well, two S-400s are already delayed. Don't think India will go for additional S-400s as Russia is engaged with Ukraine, so there is no timeline guarantee. Instead, it should be going for S-500, maybe two to three units, as we are developing Kusha, which is equivalent to S-400.

 

[Bks98]

Project KUSHA to be ready within 3 years. Defence ministry already warned to work aggressively to meet timeline. Lot of interceptor missile already tested successfully. Few are still to be tested. So after missile tested, it is a matter of integration.

 

[Abuiase Az]

India should also give attention to anti-hypersonic missile systems to secure Indian skies from hypersonic missile attacks from China and Pakistan. Any hypersonic missile attack from Iran directly goes through Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system and hits targets, as Israel has no technology to shoot down such missiles.