Explained: S-400 Missile System: India's Sudarshan Chakra

Inspiration Study Circle S-400 Missile System- India’s Sudarshan Chakra

India’s “Sudarshan Chakra” refers to the S-400 Triumph air defense missile system, which India has named after the Sudarshan Chakra, the weapon of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology. It is a Russian-made, long-range surface-to-air missile system (SAM) designed to intercept a wide range of aerial threats, including aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

Key features of the S-400 Sudarshan Chakra:

Range: It can track and engage targets up to 600 kilometers away and intercept them at ranges of up to 400 kilometers.
Target Engagement: Can intercept various aerial threats, including aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.
Operational Structure: Each squadron consists of two batteries, each with six launchers, a radar, and a control center supporting up to 128 missiles.
Indian Acquisition: India has procured multiple squadrons of the S-400, with three already operational and more expected to be deployed.
Strengths: Considered one of the most formidable air defense systems in the world, providing a strong deterrent against aerial threats.

In addition to the S-400, India also uses the following systems, some of which were named Sudarshan:

Akash Missile: An indigenously developed medium-range surface-to-air missile system, also known as the “Sudarshan”.
Larsen & Toubro’s Sudarshan: A close-in air defense system designed to protect critical assets from aerial threats, as mentioned in “Larsen & Toubro’s News & Views”.
DRDO’s Sudarshan Laser-Guided Bomb: Developed by DRDO for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Development and History of the S-400 Missile System

The S-400 Triumf, previously known as the S-300 PMU-3, is a mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed in the 1990s by Russia’s NPO Almaz as an upgrade to the S-300 family of missiles.

The development of the S-400 began in the early 1980s to replace the S-200 missile system, but was rejected by a state commission due to high cost and inability to address the threat of cruise missiles. In the late 1980s, the programme was revived under the codename Triumf as a system capable of engaging aircraft at long range, plus cruise missiles and stealth aircraft.

Current operators

Apart from Russia, the missile system S-400 is currently operated by:

Algeria: Algerian People’s National Army– First S-400 units delivered in September 2021.
Belarus: Belarusian Air Force– Contract signed in May 2022 and executed in December.
China: People’s Liberation Army Air Force– Contract signed in September 2014, deliveries of units began in January 2018, and are being introduced.
India: Indian Air Force– A contract was signed in October 2018 during an official meeting between Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The deal, worth $US5.43 billion, includes delivery of the 1st regiment of the S-400 beginning November 2021. India deployed the 1st regiment of the S-400 in April 2022. 3 regiments delivered, with 2 more to join by August 2026.
Turkey: Air Defence Command and S-400 Group Command.

Contract and Deployment in India

A deal to purchase S-400 systems by India was first reported in October 2015. On 15 October 2016, during the BRICSSummit, India and Russia signed an Inter-governmental Agreement (IGA) for the supply of five S-400 regiments to India.
On 1 July 2018, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, cleared the procurement. The deliveries were expected to commence within 24 months after contract signing (October 2020), while they would complete all deliveries within 60 months (April 2023).
On 26 September 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, further cleared the acquisition.
In February 2025, it was reported that the fourth squadron is to be delivered by the end of the year, while the last squadron would be delivered by 2026.

Deployment of Squadrons in India

Squadrons	Deployed at
First Squadron	Along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Pathankot region to protect the Punjab–Jammu & Kashmir sector.
Training Squadron	Received simulators and other equipment for a training squadron
Second Squadron	Along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Sikkim sector.
Third Squadron	Rajasthan–Gujarat sector

The S-400 system is named Sudarshan Chakra in Indian service, after Sudarshan Chakra, and is unified with the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). Each squadron is composed of two batteries. Each battery (or firing unit) is equipped with 6 launchers, a radar, and a control center with 128 missiles. A squadron has a total of 16 vehicles. India bought a total of 60 launchers with around 6,000 missiles, including 9M96E2 (120km), 48N6E2 (200km), 48N6E3 (240km), and 40N6E (380km).

Service history

In July 2024, during an air defence exercise of the Indian Air Force, the S-400 system ‘shot down’ 80% of the ‘aggressor aircraft’. Some Indian jets were used as aggressor jets, which were tracked, targeted, and locked on by the S-400 system.

India’s first combat usage of the S-400 was during the 2025 India–Pakistan strikes, where it was successful in thwarting Pakistan’s swarm drone and missile attacks.

S400: A gamechanger in thwarting cross-border attacks

Russian-origin air defence system S-400 proved to be a gamechanger for the Indian military as it successfully thwarted several drone and missile attacks by Pakistan Air Force along the country’s western and north-western borders since Wednesday.
Currently, India has three operational S-400 air defence systems, and two more are expected to be delivered by 2026.

High-level sources recalled that while deciding to purchase the S-400 system, the Indian political leadership was firm in its decision to go ahead with the agreement in India’s national interests.

Known for its advanced radar and interception capabilities, the S-400 was used to neutralise 15 missiles fired by Pakistan at military sites on Thursday. The S-400 system was used to neutralise 15 missiles fired by Pakistan at military sites on Thursday. The S-400 system is capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, at varying ranges and altitudes.

It consists of three main components: missile launchers, a powerful radar, and a command centre. It is capable of targeting aircraft, cruise missiles, and even high-speed intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

Inspiration Study Circle

Explained: S-400 Missile System: India's Sudarshan Chakra

Table of Contents

Inspiration Study Circle S-400 Missile System- India’s Sudarshan Chakra

Key features of the S-400 Sudarshan Chakra:

Development and History of the S-400 Missile System

Current operators

Contract and Deployment in India

Deployment of Squadrons in India

Service history

S400: A gamechanger in thwarting cross-border attacks

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