New Delhi: The Sudarshan S-400 air defence missile system has shot down 80 per cent of the “enemy” fighter aircraft package while forcing others to retreat.
The IAF carried out the exercise in a theatre where the force deployed one of its own fighter aircraft as ‘enemy aggressor planes’ in real life and were ‘tracked and targeted’ by the S-400 air defence system, said top defence sources.
The recent exercise demonstrated significant success with air defence capabilities, with approximately 80 percent of incoming enemy aircraft being intercepted by air defence missiles supplied by Russia.
Currently, India has inducted three squadrons of the S-400, with plans to receive the remaining two within the next few years. Russia has committed to delivering these two additional S-400 air defence missile squadrons by the third quarter of 2026.
Initially, Russia was expected to supply all five squadrons by early 2024, but the delivery schedule was delayed due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Despite this, the IAF has fully operationalised the three squadrons received so far. “Current deployments indicate that we have nearly 1.5 squadrons each stationed on the fronts with China and Pakistan,” sources said.
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