Even as Russia continues to project its S-400 Triumf (Triumph) surface-to-air missile system as the finest in the world in its class, and while India is awaiting the delivery of the fifth S-400 system from Russia under the 5.43 billion deal signed in 2018, reports suggest that the air defence systems will be undergoing further modernisation process in Russia.
According to media reports, building on the lessons learnt from the Ukraine war in which Moscow successfully deployed the air defence systems, including for thwarting attacks with US-made ATACMS, Russia is modernising the S-400 to neutralise threats with much more effectiveness.
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When it was recently pointed out to Yan Novikov, CEO of Almaz-Antey Group, which develops the air defence system, that the system now features “unusual characteristics,” he highlighted the modernisation potential of the S-400.
Pointing out that the rapid technological and scientific revolutions happening across the world are reflected in the defence industry as well, he said, "The speed of change allows us to respond without delay to new challenges. One of these responses is the enormous modernisation potential of the S-400 air defence missile system, which allows us to quickly mitigate emerging threats during the special military operation."
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"Thanks to this potential, the Triumph has acquired new capabilities and properties that are generally not characteristic of air defence systems,” he added.
Although no further details have been offered about the improvements being made to S-400, it has been suggested that it is also aimed at further enhancing its export potential. Reports had suggested that in the wake of S-400 proving very effective in the recent Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, India is looking to procure additional batches of the defence system from Russia.
Novikov had recently told a Russian news agency that the parameters of the system's effectiveness have been proven in actual combat, and no foreign air defence system can rival the S-400 in its class so far.
