Why everyone wants S-400 as India buys in

[Lord Botta]

It's no point in getting into an arms race with India, they can clearly outspend us in that department. Only solution is to develop something better locally. Which I don't know if we are capable of or have the budget for development.

Basically there isn't much we can do, other than train our pilots in better SAM detection and avoidance.

There is not much one can do with a third and fourth generation aircraft even if one detects a missile flying towards you with Mach 14 speed loaded with several precise guidance systems.
S-400 shall severely undermine our air power and shall shift the balance of power to India. S-400 is a global threat for America and NATO as well and I am sure they must have thought of some antidote for it. America and Israel have successfully evaded S-300s in Syria so the only practical option left for us would be to take assistance from US and NATO countries. On the other hand , acquiring a stealth fifth generation fighter should be our preference.

 

[Citizen X]

There is not much one can do with a third and fourth generation aircraft even if one detects a missile flying towards you with Mach 14 speed loaded with several precise guidance systems.
S-400 shall severely undermine our air power and shall shift the balance of power to India. S-400 is a global threat for America and NATO as well and I am sure they must have thought of some antidote for it. America and Israel have successfully evaded S-300s in Syria so the only practical option left for us would be to take assistance from US and NATO countries. On the other hand , acquiring a stealth fifth generation fighter should be our preference.

Well its still battle untested so we really don't know how good it is, other than what it says on paper before the gulf war the Americans were ( and still are ) pushing their patriots as the final and best solution to SAMs. But in the first gulf war we saw how horribly inaccurate they were, with a pathetic strike rate. Letting most of saddams dumb and slow Scuds through,

 

[Nadir Bashir]

India is acquiring the necessary assets for war. The earliest possibility for hostilities would be late 2021.

Yes they are filling the Gap for war preparations.
You are right, time period will be around 2021 to 2023.

 

[Taimur.javed]

S400 will alter the balance of air power towards India significantly. China also employs S400 and there is very little chance of conflict between them. It is for Pakistan. S400 with Brahmos & Brahmos NG & meteora air to air missiles will give India overwhelming advantage over Pakistan

 

[Lord Botta]

India has bigger requirements than Pakistan. They have to counter China and they have a much bigger coast line and international border to defend. We can sufficiently meet our defence needs with a budget 5 times smaller.

We do not need long range double engine fighter jets like Su-30 or S-400. F-16s and Jf-17, S-200 and S-300 are enough for our requirements. Few submarines and anti-ship missiles can defend our coastline.

That is a very erroneous line of thinking. S-400 is an anti aircraft missile with reportedly anti ballistic missile capability as well , which can shoot down any aircraft with pinpoint accuracy in no time. If India install a few batteries of S-400 across LOC , you shall definitely fail to cross LOC in JF-17 or F-16

 

[Vitamin_C]

Yeah but it would be a terrible idea to place it at LOC as cheaper low-medium range air defences like BUK and S-200 can do the same job from that close of a range.

Your missiles are only as good as how far your radar can see and in mountainous areas like LOC, ground based radars are less effective.

Pakistan is on the right track investing in AWAC and BVRs.

That is a very erroneous line of thinking. S-400 is an anti aircraft missile with reportedly anti ballistic missile capability as well , which can shoot down any aircraft with pinpoint accuracy in no time. If India install a few batteries of S-400 across LOC , you shall definitely fail to cross LOC in JF-17 or F-16