India’s expanding arsenal

The S-400 missile defence system that Russia has agreed to sell to India during the recently concluded Brics summit, is arguably the world’s most advanced missile defence system. The system uses a mobile platform with a battery of missiles to simultaneously track and destroy a number of airborne targets including cruise and ballistic missiles. The missile’s characteristics are amazing. It can destroy a target at a distance of 400 kilometres and up to a height of 56 kilometres.

Defence analysts acknowledge that the system is superior to Israel’s iron dome and US’s patriot missile systems and poses a deadly threat to the latest fifth generation fighter aircraft. The acquisition of such a deadly missile system by a country that is not in friendly terms with our country should be a matter of concern.

Farid Nawaz

Islamabad