Aviation

India deploys first S-400 air defence system in Punjab sector

Meet India’s first S400 missile launcher, which was manufactured in Russia.

A significant improvement in the country’s air defense capability. In the Punjab sector, the Indian air force is deploying the first squadron of the S400 air defense missile system.

S 400 Triumf Specifications

It’s a mobile anti-ballistic missile and surface-to-air missile system. Aimaz-antey designed it, and Fakel machine –Building design Bureau built it. The S-400 has a unit cost of roughly $300 million per system.

Its maximum target speed is 4.8 kilometers per second, or 17,000 kilometers per hour. The detection distance of the target is 600 kilometers.

It can be ready for signal operations in 5 minutes from driving on the march, and ready for signal operations in 35 seconds from standby, and ready in 3 minutes.

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This is capable of shooting down strategic bombers such as the B-1 and B-2, as well as electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and early warning radar planes.

Parts of the Russian missile system began arriving in India earlier this month, and the unit is scheduled to go live in the coming weeks.

India has requested the S400 air defense system. In a deal for over Rs 35000 crore, India will receive five squadrons for countering air threats from distances of up to 400 kilometers.

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The air defense system would offer India an advantage in the skies of South Asia, since it would allow them to shoot down hostile aircraft and cruise missiles from a distance of 400 kilometers.

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The S400 missile defense system is armed with four missiles that can strike enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles, and AWACS planes at distances of 400, 250, 120, and 40 kilometers.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.