The Indian Air Force, deploying its Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defense system, intercepted and neutralized the incoming threats, marking the system’s first combat use in Indian hands. This high-stakes encounter, triggered by India’s Operation Sindoor, showcased the S-400’s capabilities and underscored India’s growing military prowess in a volatile region.

The event, reported by Indian defense sources to local media, not only highlighted the system’s role in safeguarding strategic assets but also raised questions about its strategic and economic implications in modern warfare.

The S-400 Triumf, known to NATO as the SA-21 Growler, is a mobile surface-to-air missile system developed by Russia’s Almaz-Antey corporation. Designed to counter a wide array of aerial threats, it can engage targets at ranges up to 400 kilometers and altitudes of 30 kilometers.

The system’s core components include a multifunction radar for early warning, a command-and-control center, and mobile launchers equipped with multiple missile types. India’s version employs a mix of interceptors, such as the long-range 40N6E, capable of striking targets at 400 kilometers, and the medium-range 48N6E3, optimized for ranges up to 250 kilometers.

The shorter-range 9M96E2 missiles provide precision against agile targets like drones and cruise missiles. The system’s phased-array radar can track up to 300 targets simultaneously, making it a formidable tool against complex, multi-threat scenarios.

Unlike India’s indigenous Akash system, which focuses on medium-range defense, or the Israeli-designed Barak-8, tailored for naval and coastal protection, the S-400 offers unmatched range and versatility, positioning it as the cornerstone of India’s layered air defense network.

India’s journey to acquire the S-400 began in 2015, driven by escalating threats from Pakistan and China. Both neighbors possess advanced air forces and missile arsenals, and China’s deployment of its own S-400 systems along the Line of Actual Control heightened India’s urgency for a robust defense.

In October 2018, during a summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, India signed a $5.43 billion contract for five S-400 squadrons, despite warnings from the United States about potential sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act