The Indian Air Force (IAF) deploys the first squadron of Russia-made S-400 air defence system in the Punjab sector near the Pakistan border.
“The first squadron is being deployed in the Punjab sector. The batteries of the first squadron would be capable of taking care of aerial threats from both Pakistan and China,” government sources.
The announcement was made by the Director of Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Dmitry Shugaev at the Dubai air show. FSMTC is the Russian government’s main defence export control organisation.
Industry sources said the first parts of the squadron have already started reaching India, and they would be deployed to a location where it can take on threats from both Pakistan and Chinese airspace.
According to sources, the parts of the missile systems are coming via both air and sea routes and would be quickly deployed in the designated locations.
“The first squadron delivery would be completed by the end of this year and after its deployment, the Indian Air Force would start focusing towards the eastern front,” they said.
The IAF would also dedicate some of the resources to training its personnel within the country.
The S-400 missile defence system is equipped with four different missiles which can engage enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles, and AWACS planes at 400 km, 250 km, the medium-range 120 km and the short-range 40 km.
