CDS (II) 2023 General Knowledge · Question 112 of 120

Correct — D, Russia. The S-400 Triumf is a Russian long-range surface-to-air missile system, designed by NPO Almaz and developed by Almaz-Antey, with the missiles from the Fakel design bureau; NATO calls it the SA-21 Growler. India signed for it on 5 October 2018, a contract worth about 5.43 billion dollars covering five regiments, each equipping one squadron of the Indian Air Force. Deliveries began in December 2021 and the second and third squadrons followed in July 2022 and February 2023, so by the date of this paper three were in the country. None of the other three options makes the system: the United Kingdom, the United States and France build their own air-defence families, and the American position on the deal was in fact the opposite of a sale — Washington had threatened sanctions under its law penalising major arms purchases from Russia.

• (a)United Kingdom — The United Kingdom does not build the S-400. It is a Russian system, and Britain's own long-range air-defence work runs on entirely different equipment.
• (b)U.S.A. — The opposite of the truth. The United States neither makes the S-400 nor sold it to India; it warned of sanctions over the purchase because the seller was Russia.
• (c)France — France is a major supplier to India — the Rafale is the obvious example — but the S-400 is not French. It is Russian.

The S-400 is a layered, long-range air-defence system: one battery carries several missile types of different ranges, so it can engage aircraft far out and shorter-range threats closer in, all cued by its own radars. For India its attraction is reach and the ability to cover a wide sector from a small number of sites. Russia has remained the largest single source of Indian military hardware for decades, from submarines and fighters to the BrahMos cruise missile built jointly by the two countries, and the S-400 contract sits in that long relationship.

There is no trick in the stem; the item tests whether a candidate has kept the country of origin attached to the equipment name. Two habits help. First, learn the family names by nation — the S-series is Russian air defence, just as Patriot is American and SAMP/T is French and Italian. Second, remember the diplomatic story around this deal, because it is what put the S-400 in the newspapers: the purchase strained relations with the United States and drew the threat of sanctions, which only makes sense if the seller was Russia. The remaining two squadrons of India's five were expected by the end of 2026.

• The S-400 Triumf is Russian — designed by NPO Almaz, developed by Almaz-Antey, with Fakel missiles; NATO reporting name SA-21 Growler.
• India signed the contract on 5 October 2018 for about 5.43 billion dollars, covering five regiments.
• The first squadron arrived in December 2021, the second in July 2022 and the third in February 2023.
• Other export customers include China, Turkey, Belarus and Algeria.
• The purchase drew the threat of United States sanctions under its law penalising major defence transactions with Russia.

• Confusing the S-400 with the American Patriot or the Israeli Iron Dome — different countries, different systems.
• Assuming the United States sold it because the deal was so heavily discussed in Washington; the American role was to object.
• Mixing the 2018 signing date with the 2021 first delivery.

As a one-line country-of-origin question, or inside a statements item on India's defence acquisitions and their timelines.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The BrahMos cruise missile is developed jointly by India and which country?

  • (a)Israel
  • (b)France
  • (c)Russia
  • (d)the United States

  Answer(c) Russia — the name itself joins the Brahmaputra and the Moskva.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The S-400 Triumf is best described as

  • (a)A long-range surface-to-air missile system
  • (b)A submarine-launched ballistic missile
  • (c)A main battle tank
  • (d)A multirole fighter aircraft

  Answer(a) A long-range surface-to-air missile system, carrying several missile types for engagements at different ranges.