• Source:JND

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has, for the first time, released a video showing the S-400 Sudarshan long-range air defence missile system in action. The footage, shared ahead of the high-profile Vayu Shakti-2026 exercise, shows radar detecting a distant airborne target. The missile then launches and destroys it at long range.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) shared the clip with a caption, stating "Longest ever kill recorded in military history." "Enemy may be out of sight but never out of reach," it added.

S-400 Role In Operation Sindoor

The S-400 played a key role during Operation Sindoor conducted in May 2025. During the operation, S-400 was used to strike a target about 300 km inside Pakistani territory.

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About S-400

The S-400 Triumf, operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF), is a long-range surface-to-air missile system developed by Russia's Almaz-Antey. In India, the system is widely known as the "Sudarshan Chakra".

In 2018, India signed a $5.4 billion deal with Russia to procure five S-400 regiments, aiming to enhance the country’s air defence capabilities. As a part of the deal, deliveries began in 2021, NDTV reported.

How Sudarshan Chakra Work?

The Sudarshan Chakra is designed to detect, track, and neutralise a wide range of aerial threats, including fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and certain ballistic missiles.

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The system uses multiple missile types to provide layered defence at different distances. The long-range 40N6 missile reportedly has a range of up to 400 km, while the 48N6 and 9M96 series cover medium and shorter ranges, NDTV report added.

The S-400 surveillance radar can detect threats at long distances of up to 600 km, depending on conditions. It can track multiple targets at once and engage several of them simultaneously.

Each regiment consists of launcher vehicles, radar units, a command post and support vehicles. These components are mounted on the mobile platforms for redeployment. In India, the S-400 operates along with other systems such as the Akash and medium-range surface-to-air missiles, forming a layered air defence grid.


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