As Rajnath Singh and his top delegation of defense personnel continue their Russia visit, talks of a mega defense agreement between Moscow and New Delhi are in advanced stages. The deal, reportedly worth $4 billion, will give a huge boost to India’s air defense infrastructure.
The equipment being discussed by both sides is the advanced ‘Voronezh’ series radar manufactured by Russia’s Almaz-Anti Corporation, a specialist organization for manufacturing anti-aircraft missile systems and radars.
Voronezh radar is a very long-range early warning radar system with a range of over 8,000 kilometers. It is capable of identifying and tracking threats such as ballistic missiles, fighter aircraft and ICBMs. If India achieves this, the advanced radar system will be able to detect any air threat from anywhere in China, South and Central Asia and most of the Indian Ocean region.
The Voronezh radar can detect more than 500 objects simultaneously. While its total range can go up to 10,000 km, its vertical range is over 8,000 km and horizon range is over 6,000 km. Moscow claims that the Voronezh radar system can also track stealth aircraft. Due to its huge vertical range, it can provide complete data about ICBMs and situational awareness about near-Earth objects in space.
According to a report in Russia Today, talks have been going on between Moscow and New Delhi for some time and last month, a team from Almaz-Antey even visited India to hold talks with potential offset partners who will be involved in the project. Will be a part.
Another report in The Sunday Guardian states that under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, emphasis is being laid on manufacturing at least 60 per cent of radar systems locally, for which offset partners are being sought in India. Has been.
If the deal is finalised, the advanced radar system will likely be installed in Chitradurga district of Karnataka, and the site designated for it has also reportedly been surveyed. Chitradurga is already home to some of India’s most advanced and top secret defense and aerospace facilities.
The radar system, once acquired, will significantly improve India’s threat detection and surveillance capabilities in Asia and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It will also enhance India’s air defense infrastructure to meet its needs amid ever-increasing regional and global challenges.
On the second day of his visit today, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov will co-chair a top-level meeting on military-technical cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow. India and Russia share a special, privileged and strategic defense partnership.
Mr Singh will also take stock of the delivery of the remaining two S-400 Triumf missile systems which New Delhi has not yet received. India had signed a deal with Russia in 2018 for the supply of its advanced S-400 missile systems.
