How many S-400 'fire dragons' does India want to acquire?

India is reportedly in negotiations with Russia to purchase five S-400 air defense systems, worth approximately $5.8 billion.

Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense

The India Times, citing Indian defense officials, reported that in phase 1 of the contract, India will order two S-400 systems.

Previously, in October 2016, Russia and India signed an agreement concerning the S-400 system, following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS Summit.

The S-400 missile system, developed by the Almaz-Antey Design Bureau of Russia, is an improved version with many more powerful features than the S-300 series of surface-to-air missile systems.

This system was commissioned in April 2007 and first deployed in the field four months later.

The system can destroy all airborne objects, including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and ballistic missiles, at an altitude of 50 km and a maximum target speed of up to 4,800 m/s.

The S-400 is capable of tracking 300 targets and simultaneously shooting down 36 of them. Notably, the S-400 is powerful enough to intercept strategic missiles with a range of up to 3,500 km, nearly four times that of the US Patriot system.

This missile system integrates a multi-functional anti-jamming radar, an automatic detection and targeting system, anti-aircraft missiles, launchers, and a command and control center.

The S-400 can fire five types of missiles to create a layered defense mechanism.

According to TPO