By the end of 2021, India will have received the S-400 defense system, which is the world’s most sophisticated anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense system.
The Russian-made s-400 missile defense system is the most advanced anti-aircraft and anti-missile system in the world currently in service with a detection range of up to 600 km and an engagement range of up to 400 km.
As disagreements between China and India persist, the s-400 defense system has come at the right time for India and will help to enhance India’s reach in terms of deterrence and surveillance capabilities.
India has gone ahead with the purchase of the Russian made s-400 defense systems despite strong opposition from the US as India sees its purchase as critical to its defense needs as its disagreements grow with China and Pakistan countries which deploy one of the most advanced aircraft in the world like j-20 on China’s side.
US has discouraged many countries, especially NATO members from buying the Russian-made s-400 which is the most advanced anti-aircraft and anti-missile system in the world because it’s not only disruptive to the US’s global defense ambitions but also reduces the scope of the US military to freely maneuver across the world.
After the clash between Indian soldiers and Chinese soldiers in June last year where 20 Indian soldiers and 4 Chinese soldiers were killed, India started a military modernization drive by going on a buying sphere of many different weapons systems like 4th generation aircraft from France and Russia, drones and machine guns from US and defense systems like s-400 from Russia in order to strengthen its position in the region against both China and Pakistan.
India’s military industry is still far behind when compared to that of China which is why India is the biggest buyer of foreign weapons in the world and it posed to remain like that for the foreseeable future although Indian prime minister Modi launched a made in India program last year in order to start not only manufacturing weapons but also many other products imported from other countries especially China in order to attain self-reliance.
This made-in-India program will take many years to have practical results as India has very limited resources to support a hugely ambitious program and a very large poor population which is another burden for the country which can’t support the rapid modernization program.
Although India has tried to show the world that it has got the opportunity, potential, and capabilities to become not only the manufacturing power House of the world but also as a counterweight to China’s rise, it still has a very long way to go as it has been showing by the out break out of the second wave of covid-19 that has killed tens of thousands of Indians.
Despite all the above, India has the potential to become one of the great powers in this century but many challenges remain like a deeply divided nation, large numbers of uneducated poor people, climate change, rivalry with two powerful neighbors of China and Pakistan, and ever-changing political environment both at home and abroad.