 "India may get Russia’s Voronezh radar system: How it could help counter aerial threats from China")
India may soon add to its air defence power. As per media reports, New Delhi is in talks with Moscow to finalise a $4 billion defence deal for the advanced Voronezh long-range radar system.
If India acquires the radar system, it will enhance its missile detection and air defence capabilities. The development comes against the backdrop of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s three-day visit to Russia that ended on Tuesday (December 10).
Glad to call on the Russian President Mr Vladimir Putin at Kremlin in Moscow. https://t.co/lDgg7AOG23 pic.twitter.com/iJWkM9Khmn
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 10, 2024
Let’s take a closer look.
What is Voronezh radar system?
The Voronezh long-range early warning radar system is part of the Voronezh series manufactured by Russia’s Almaz-Antey Corporation.
The radar, which has an overall range of up to 8,000 kilometres, can detect over 500 objects at the same time, as per reports.
The Voronezh radar system is capable of tracking ballistic missiles and even stealth aircraft.
Russia has been using the radar since 2012, gradually substituting the older Soviet-era radar systems.
“Currently, it is being upgraded with new components that can operate across various frequency bands, from metre to centimetre wavelengths, allowing military experts to track targets of various sizes in air and near-space environments, calculate their distances, and determine their potential for interception if necessary,” Alexander Mikhailov, head of the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis (BVPA), told Sputnik India.
Russia has deployed at least ten Voronezh radar systems, boosting its early warning and missile defence infrastructure.
Is India eyeing Voronezh radar system?
India is reportedly interested in acquiring Russia ’s Voronezh radar system.
As per India Today, Indian defence officials and a delegation from Almaz-Antey are in an advanced stage of discussion.
Last month, a 10-member team from the Russian manufacturer led by Deputy Chairman Vladimir Medovnikov visited India, including Delhi and Bengaluru, to meet offset partners that will be part of the project, reported The Sunday Guardian.
Sources told the newspaper that at least 60 per cent of the system will be manufactured by Indian partners, in line with the Make in India initiative.
As per India Today, the radar system is expected to be installed in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
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Why it matters to India
The Voronezh radar system will bolster India’s air defence capabilities. It aligns with the country’s efforts to modernise its air defence infrastructure amid growing regional security threats.
The early warning system will help India ward off air threats from China, South and Central Asia, and most of the Indian Ocean region, noted NDTV.
Speaking to Sputnik India, BVPA’s Mikhailov said the radar would play a key role in missile warning efforts.
“When a satellite detects a launch, it alerts the Voronezh radar, which then confirms or refutes the threat. The key role of these radar systems is to verify the presence of a threat, such as a mass launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles, and provide crucial information for interception,” he explained.
The system works together with Russia’s satellites to detect the firing of ballistic missiles.
Former Indian Air Force (IAF) Vice Chief, retired Air Marshal Anil Khosla, told Sputnik India that amid rising missile threats from India’s foes, an advanced early warning system is “crucial” to maintain strategic stability.
“In South Asia, India faces growing security challenges, including the potential deployment of advanced missile systems by neighbouring countries. An advanced radar like Voronezh would enable India to maintain technological parity and address evolving threats,” he said.
The radar’s multirole capability that includes space surveillance could also prove significant for India’s space programme. “The radar’s ability to monitor terrestrial, space objects and debris fits well with India’s civil and military objectives, including its burgeoning space programme under ISRO [Indian Space Research Organisation] ,” Khosla said.
With this, India will join a select league of nations that possess radar systems with ranges exceeding 5,000 km.
With inputs from agencies
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