Raghav Patel
In a frank evaluation that may prompt serious discussions within the Indian military establishment, Jack Watling, a leading expert on land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), has advised India to urgently re-evaluate the combat resilience of the Russian S-400 air defence system.
His comments come amidst growing evidence from the Ukraine conflict regarding the system's performance against modern, high-intensity aerial threats.
Speaking to The Hindu, Watling, who has extensive experience advising Ukrainian forces and briefing NATO allies, stopped short of suggesting India should cancel its existing contracts with Russia.
However, he emphasized that the S-400’s operational record in Ukraine has exposed significant weaknesses that marketing claims can no longer hide.
Contrasting Experiences: Operation Sindoor vs. UkraineWatling acknowledged that the S-400 has served India well during limited engagements, specifically referencing its deployment during "Operation Sindoor."
During this operation—launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in 2025—the system reportedly provided a credible deterrent against Pakistani aerial assets.
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