Putin India visit: The Russian-made S-400 air defense system was crucial during India’s Operation Sindoor earlier this year. The Indian Air Force hailed the S-400 – a cutting-edge surface-to-air missile platform – as the ‘game changer’ of the three-day standoff. Now, with Russian President Vladimir Putin arriving in India today, New Delhi is setting its sights on the S-400’s bigger, stronger and smarter successor: the S-500 Prometheus air shield. India’s diligence in procuring S-400 missile systems, upgrading Sukhoi 30 fighter jets and purchasing other critical military hardware from Russia will be on the agenda for talks between Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov on Thursday. Belousov will be part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s delegation to India. The talks between the two defense ministers will take place a day before the summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Putin. During the meeting with Belousov, the Indian side is likely to insist on providing military hardware within the prescribed time frame. India may also consider acquiring the S-500 missile systems from Russia, according to media reports. What is S-500 Prometheus? The S-500 Prometheus is Russia’s latest next-generation air and missile defense system, designed to defeat a wide spectrum of advanced threats – from stealth aircraft and drones to ballistic missiles, hypersonic glide vehicles, and even selective low-Earth orbit (LEO) objects. Developed by Almaz-Antey, the S-500 represents a significant leap forward from the S-400, extending air defense to the near-space layer. With an intercept range of approximately 500–600 km and a strike altitude of 180–200 km, it functions as a national-level strategic shield, rather than a conventional battlefield system. How is it different from the S-400? The S-500 is not just an improved S-400; it represents a qualitative leap in what air defense systems can do. It is designed to defend not only high-altitude airspace, but also the near-space layer. This is not the case with S-400. The S-500 can engage faster, higher-flying threats – including long-range ballistic missiles, hypersonic glide vehicles, and even select low-Earth orbit (LEO) objects. The S-500 can intercept threats at a distance of about 500–600 kilometers and engage targets at altitudes of 180–200 kilometers, deep into the near-space layer. In comparison, the S-400’s ceiling is about 30 kilometers. In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, despite a warning from the US that continuing the contract could invite US sanctions under the provisions of the Countering America’s Sanction Adversaries (ATSA Adversaries). Three squadrons have already been delivered. Key features of the S-500 Prometheus 1- It can intercept threats at 500–600 km depending on the type of missile. It is designed to counter both air and long-range strategic missile threats. It operates at an engagement altitude of 180–200 km and penetrates the exoatmospheric/near-space layer. 2- It allows interception of ballistic missiles, hypersonic glide vehicles and some LEO objects. 3- It uses advanced interceptors like 77N6-N and 77N6-N1. It is capable of kinetic killing, meaning destroying targets with force rather than explosive proximity. 4-It was specifically developed to engage hypersonic cruise missiles, hypersonic glide vehicles and high speed ballistic reentry vehicles 5- It comes with an engagement response time of 3–4 seconds, significantly faster than the S-400. Co-production program Russia has entered service with a limited number of S-500 units in 2021, and production remains modest. According to the reports, Russia is fielding the S-500 not simply as a purchase, but as a co-production program with Almaz-Antey – the state-owned aerospace defense giant behind the S-300, S-400 and S-500 families. The key components would be manufactured in India. The cost factor challenge The S-500 is significantly more expensive than the S-400 and requires complex maintenance, specialized training and long-term service arrangements. Integrating it into India’s command and control network would also be challenging. The S-500 represents a qualitative leap in what air defense systems can do. Export availability is extremely limited, and political negotiations are likely to be protracted. But the system’s capabilities are built for the next era of air and missile defense. (With agency input)