India Nears Finalization of Maintenance Deal for Russian S-400 Systems with Local Production Plans by 2028

 

According to a source within the Indian defense industry, an agreement between an Indian company and the Russian manufacturer of the S-400 air defense systems for local maintenance and repair is nearly complete. This has been reported by various media outlets, including EurAsian Times, Russia’s Sputnik, and India’s Times of India.

The key joint venture involves an Indian firm collaborating with Almaz-Antey, the Russian state-owned company that developed the S-400 surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The primary aim of this partnership is to maintain and repair S-400 air defense systems in India, with plans to eventually produce essential components locally.

Negotiations between the Indian company and Almaz-Antey are almost concluded. The partners intend to establish two support centers and commence manufacturing spare parts in India by 2028.

Discussions about India’s role in manufacturing spare parts and maintaining the S-400 system began back in 2019. Reports from BulgarianMilitary.com indicated that Russia and India were negotiating the production of parts for the S-400 systems within India. Sergey Chemezov from Russia’s high-tech company, Rostec, confirmed these discussions. He also mentioned that Russia had previously sold licenses to India for the production of Su-30 fighter jets and T-90 tanks, and collaborated on the development and production of the BrahMos missile in India.

India sought to purchase the Russian-made S-400 missile systems as early as 2015, finalizing a $5.43 billion contract during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India. This move faced opposition from Washington, which threatened sanctions on countries buying military equipment from Russia. Despite U.S. pressure, India remains committed to acquiring the S-400 systems.

Indian sources report a delay in the delivery of the SA-21 Growler anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia. Originally scheduled for delivery by 2024, the final pair will now arrive between July and September 2026, likely due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, Russia has not officially commented on the delay.

In October last year, new information surfaced about India’s pending S-400 units, with photos shared on Russian Telegram accounts showing the transport of key S-400 components. These photos suggested that the final units for India were nearing completion, pending final assembly and quality tests before shipment.

In March 2024, BulgarianMilitary.com reported another delay in the delivery of the final pair of S-400 Triumf systems to India, disrupting India's defense plans which rely on the three existing S-400 units. The delay of the fourth and fifth units, now expected in 2026, is a significant issue for India.

This situation might offer an unexpected benefit for India's defense industry. India, which currently relies on imported parts for various platforms, could leverage the ongoing conflicts and production challenges to gain a major technology transfer from Russia. This would facilitate local assembly of parts and components, turning a challenging situation into a potential advantage through Transfer of Technology (ToT).

Philippines Establishes First BrahMos Missile Base to Bolster South China Sea Defense

 

The Philippines has begun constructing its first BrahMos anti-ship missile base, strategically positioned at a naval installation facing the South China Sea. This development follows the country’s 2022 order of Indian supersonic cruise missiles, a key component of its defense modernization program aimed at updating its military capabilities amidst regional tensions with China. This $375 million deal under the Philippine Navy’s Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile Acquisition Project includes three BrahMos missile batteries and technical support, marking the first international sale of this missile system and sparking interest from other nations like Vietnam and Indonesia.

Satellite images have revealed the construction of the BrahMos site at Philippine Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in Zambales, Western Luzon. The images show new infrastructure being built on land previously used for amphibious assault and coastal defense training, with only a shed for amphibious vehicles existing before the construction began in August 2022. By May 2024, the site features buildings similar to those at Indian BrahMos bases, including a high-bay facility for missile maintenance and testing, and a magazine bunker for storage. The Philippine base is smaller, reflecting the reduced capacity of the BrahMos systems ordered by Manila, which have two missiles per launcher compared to three on Indian launchers.

Construction continues on additional structures likely intended to house the missile launchers and other command and control facilities. While missile deliveries began in April, it’s unclear if the transporter-erector-launchers have arrived. The mobile BrahMos system allows for flexible deployment, enabling batteries to relocate and avoid enemy counterstrikes while striking targets up to 300 kilometers away, including the disputed Scarborough Shoal occupied by China.

Another potential BrahMos deployment site is Camp Cape Bojeador in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, home to the Philippine Marine Corps 4th Marine Brigade. Development plans here show structures similar to those at the Zambales base, suggesting future coastal defense deployments that would cover the Luzon Strait. The Coastal Defense Regiment, operating the BrahMos, has also received land donations in Lubang and Calayan, both strategic locations for coastal defense.

Former Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana emphasized BrahMos’ deterrent capabilities in defending Philippine sovereignty, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippine Army is also considering procuring BrahMos and HIMARS systems in the next phase of military modernization, aiming to deploy more missile batteries for coastal defense. To support this high-end system, the Philippines has collaborated with the U.S. for training in modern systems and tactics, practicing combined networks to identify and strike maritime targets effectively.

Greek Push for BrahMos Missile Against Turkey's S-400: Indo-Russian Defense Collaboration

 In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Greece paved the way for potential cooperation between India and Greece, particularly in defense. Greek media has been increasingly vocal about acquiring the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from India to counter Turkey's activities in the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Crete.

During Prime Minister Modi's visit, the first by an Indian prime minister in four decades, discussions were held regarding collaboration in various sectors, including defense. The subsequent reciprocal visit by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in February 2024 further solidified bilateral relations.

Greek media outlets, notably the Greece City Times, have advocated for deploying BrahMos missiles on the eastern Aegean islands to strengthen Greece's naval capabilities. This move is seen as a strategic response to Turkey's assertive actions in the region.

Emmanuel Marios Economou and Nikos K. Kyriazis, academics at the University of Thessaly, have endorsed the acquisition of BrahMos missiles, arguing that it would significantly enhance Greece's maritime defense capabilities. They highlight the cost-effectiveness of BrahMos compared to traditional naval vessels.

The BrahMos missile, a joint venture between India and Russia, has garnered interest from several countries, including Greece. Its advanced features, such as supersonic speed and low-altitude flight capability, make it an attractive option for naval defense.

The potential deployment of BrahMos missiles in Greece has implications for regional dynamics, particularly in countering Turkey's "Blue Homeland" concept, which asserts territorial claims over the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.

As tensions between India and Turkey persist, Greece's interest in BrahMos signifies a potential alignment of interests between Athens and New Delhi. The deployment of BrahMos missiles in the Aegean Sea could alter the regional balance of power, challenging Turkey's assertiveness in the region.

IAF Reveals Causes Behind Accidental BrahMos Missile Launch into Pakistan

 The Indian Air Force (IAF) has publicly disclosed the reasons behind the accidental firing of a BrahMos combat missile into Pakistan in March 2022. According to a response submitted to the Delhi High Court, the IAF attributed the incident to the combat connectors of the BrahMos missile remaining connected to the junction box, leading to the unintended firing.

Sharing key findings from the Court of Inquiry conducted to investigate the incident, the IAF explained that the convoy commander overseeing the movement of a road convoy failed to ensure the safe transit by not disconnecting the combat connectors of all loaded missiles on the mobile autonomous launcher before the movement commenced.

Describing the incident as having a significant impact on India-Pakistan relations, the IAF informed the court that a decision was made to invoke the "President's pleasure" clause to terminate the services of three officials involved. This decision, unprecedented in the IAF for 23 years, was deemed necessary considering the sensitive nature of the case and its potential repercussions on national security.

The IAF clarified that conducting a court martial trial for the three officers was deemed impractical, as it would divulge sensitive information to the public domain, potentially compromising security interests. Similarly, initiating action under Section 19 of the Air Force Act, 1950, was considered unsuitable, as it could expose sensitive issues detrimental to the state's security.

The Court of Inquiry concluded that the combat crew, despite being aware of the connected combat connectors, failed to intervene to prevent the unsafe act of launching the combat missile, resulting in its inadvertent firing into a neighboring nation. This incident not only posed a potential threat to airborne and ground assets but also damaged the reputation of the Indian Air Force and the nation, incurring a financial loss to the government exchequer.