India, Russia In Talks For $1 Billion Air Defence System
Russia is negotiating to sell a $1 billion air defence system (ADS) to India. Along with the $1.8 billion Sukhoi aircraft and $800 million submarine deals, the ADS, if cleared, will make India one of the top buyers of arms in 1996-97.
Considered as an improvement on the US Patriot anti-missile system, the ADS will place India far ahead of Pakistan and China in terms of air defence. It incorporates an anti-aircraft, anti-short range missile and an anti-ballistic missile systems.
Russians are offering a licensed production deal whereby substantial business could accrue to Indian public and private enterprises in future. A batch of six or seven systems are to be imported while a subsequent batch would be manufactured in India with Russian components. The production will be progressively indigenised.
The system, called the S-300 can destroy approaching aircraft and aircraft launched missiles. Besides it can track and destroy ballistic missiles like the Pakistani Hatf-1 and the Chinese Silkworm which are capable of hitting deep into Indian territory. The S-300 targets the missiles engine and the warhead destroying both in flight. This is unlike the US Patriot which targets only the engine opening up the possibility of the warhead dropping on the target.
Russian sources said the sale of S-300 was discussed during a recent visit of technical experts from Rosvoorouzhenie, the Russian arms agency. While India will have the best fighters once the Sukhoi-30s are inducted, its primary air defence system which depends on the SAM-3 Prechora anti-aircraft missile systems is antiquated.
The S-300 is to be deployed along the Pakistani and Chinese borders. Vital installations will get a batch of these missile systems. The system depends on satellite communication and considerable upgradation of electronic systems.
The Air Force will continue using the Prechora but as a second line of defence once the S-300 is inducted. Russia has offered to upgrade the first line of air defence by installing the S-300 and related systems.