Big Tension for Vladimir Putin as Ukraine destroys Russian S-400 Air Defence System,… should India be worried?

India.com

27-06-2025

Big Tension for Vladimir Putin as Ukraine destroys Russian S-400 Air Defence System,… should India be worried?
Russia, which has been fighting a war with Ukraine for 40 months, has recently suffered a major setback that could affect its defence exports. Ukraine has succeeded in penetrating Russia's mighty S-400 air defence system. The S-400 was destroyed in a Ukrainian drone attack in Crimea. The S-400 is considered one of the best air defence systems and plays a crucial role in protecting Russia from airstrikes. The air defence system is so effective that Moscow has sold it to several other countries, including India. During Operation Sindoor, the world witnessed the power of the S-400 when it intercepted several missiles and drones fired by Pakistan.
Penetrating S-400 has not only put Russia's security at risk but also affected its arms export. For India also, because the S-400 air defence system is under questions.
Giving information about the development, Ukraine's military intelligence agency GUR stated they have carried out a drone attack on the 91N6E Big Bird radar, which is an important component of the S-400 air defence system. The ghost unit of GUT carried out the attack, which damaged the component of the S-400, including the multifunction radar and missile launcher.
Attack On S-400
The attack was carried out by a suicide drone. Notably, the suicide drones have become an importance part of Ukrain-Russia War. The GUR commandoes succeeded in destroying two 91N6E Big Bird radars which connects with the S-400 as a warning system.
The Russian S-400 Triumph air defense system relies heavily on the 91N6E Big Bird radar. This S-band radar system detects and tracks airborne threats, including ballistic missiles and stealth aircraft, at ranges up to 600 kilometers.
S-400 is useless without Big Bird radar!
The 91N6E Big Bird radar's ability to detect and track targets makes it important for Russia's air defence network. Unlike older radars, the 91N6E uses an electronically scanned array [PESA]. Mobility has been emphasized in its design. Without the Big Bird radar, the S-400's ability to detect and intercept distant targets is limited.
Russia's S-400 is considered one of the best air defenses in the world, but recently many questions have been raised about this system. Especially the repeated damage to this system by Ukraine has hurt the reputation of this system. This also increases India's concern because the Indian Army largely depends on Russia's S-400 system for air defence.