MoD clears Rs 30,000 crore buy of Russian S-400 air defence system

By Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 18^th Dec 15

On Thursday, the defence ministry’s apex procurement body, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, cleared the purchase of the S-400 mobile surface to air missile system (M-SAM), Russia’s latest and most vaunted air defence system.

A Reuters report, quoting a source speaking on condition of anonymity, says “the deal for five S-400 units is expected to cost around Rs 30,000 crore ($4.52 billion) but that the final price tag would be negotiated during the procurement process.”

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to travel to Moscow shortly for an annual summit meeting with President Vladimir Putin, this purchase is likely to be pursued on a fast track. Parrikar discussed it with the Russians on his visit to Russia last month.

The “Triumf”, as the S-400 is designated in Russia (NATO countries call it the SA-21 Growler) can detect an incoming ballistic missile (usually carrying a nuclear payload) at a range of 600 kilometres (km) and shoot it down when it is still 230 km away, and 185 km above the earth. Fighter aircraft can be shot down when they are still 400 km away.

The S-400, which is in service only with the Russian military, would provide a credible anti-ballistic missile (ABM) shield to cities like Delhi and Mumbai, which would figure high on the target list of any adversary. The S-400 system would complement an indigenous ABM system that the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) has been developing and testing for a decade.

Since the DRDO’s ABM system’s current interception range is just about 100-120 km, and could take several more years in development, the S-400 provides an interim capability.

“The S-400 would enhance national air defence capability, by helping in warding off threats from long-range missiles”, it was explained during the DAC meeting, according to the defence ministry source.

Worryingly for Pakistan Army planners (in Rawalpindi), the S-400 could also be deployed to neutralise Pakistani tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs), with which Rawalpindi plans to halt major Indian offensives under the “Cold Start” doctrine.

Faced with the prospect of multiple Indian battle groups, led by tanks, advancing on several fronts and overwhelming Pakistani defenders, Rawalpindi has signalled it would halt the offensive with TNWs. Pakistani generals believe this defensive use of nuclear weapons would be justifiable, since it would be on its own territory, against an Indian invasion.

However, Indian S-400 units, grouped with its strike corps, would undermine the logic of Rawalpindi’s deterrence, by providing a capability to shoot down TNWs before they could strike their targets.

Russian air defence systems have built a formidable reputation, ever since a Soviet missile shot down a U-2 spy plane in 1960, while it was being flown over the Soviet Union on a high-altitude photography mission.

Several countries have expressed interest in the S-400, including Turkey (unlikely to be a customer now, after shooting down a Russian bomber over Syria), Iran, Belarus and Saudi Arabia. China has been extremely keen and, earlier this year, the chief of Russia’s export agency, Rosoboronexport, stated that a contract had been clinched between Moscow and Beijing.

Fleet Support Ships

The DAC also cleared the navy’s acquisition of five fleet support ships for Rs 9,000 crore. Each of these 30,000 tonne vessels would be grouped with a flotilla, carrying fuel, ammunition and supplies for warships like destroyers, frigates and corvettes. They also include a full-fledged workshop, allowing a flotilla to refuel, rearm, replenish and repair itself during long deployments at sea.

“This is a part of the navy’s “blue water” vision. Along with three existing fleet tankers --- INS Deepak, Jyoti and Aditya --- the five new fleet support ships will allow the navy to send eight separate flotillas on long deployments, or long-range missions, self-contained for the mission period”, explained a naval officer.

The five vessels will be built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatnam (HSL) under the “Make in India” initiative.

Pinaka rocket launchers

The DAC also cleared six additional regiments of the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL), for Rs 14,600 crore. These will be built together by Tata Power, Larsen & Toubro and Bharat Earth Movers Ltd.

The DAC meeting also decided that the DRDO would continue developing a long-range version of the Pinaka, which would enhance the current 40-km range to 60-70 km by including a guidance system in the rockets.

Each Pinaka launcher has 12 rocket tubes, which can be fired in quick succession, with a time interval of four seconds. Each Pinaka battery has six launchers, which means that 72 rockets, filled with high explosive, can saturate a target in 44 seconds.

Other clearances

In addition, the DAC cleared the purchase of 571 light bulletproof vehicles under the “Buy Indian” category, for Rs 310 crore. Indian domestic automotive firms will now bid to build these vehicles, which would be used by troops in counter-insurgency/counter-terrorist operations.

Also cleared were 120 mine trawls for Rs 450 crore, under the “Buy Global” category. Fitted on the front of tanks, trawls churn up the soil ahead, unearthing any buried anti-tank mines. Meanwhile, the DRDO will field four sets of indigenous trawls by mid-2017.

The DAC also cleared two electronic warfare (EW) systems for the mountains, for a cost of Rs 425 crore. Developed by the DRDO, these will be built by Bharat Electronics Ltd.