India Eyes Russia’s S-500 Prometheus After S-400 Success in Operation Sindoor; Pakistan Responds with Defence Budget Hike Despite Economic Crisis

 May 27, 2025 — New Delhi

According to reports, New Delhi is thinking about purchasing Russia’s cutting-edge S-500 Prometheus air defence system, marking a new phase in India’s air defence readiness. This follows the successful use of the Russian-built S-400 Triumf in the recent Indian military operation Operation Sindoor, which eliminated Pakistan’s major aerial and missile threats.

The rapid and well-planned campaign known as Operation Sindoor, which was conducted along India’s western border, restored attention to the country’s multi-layered air defence system. The S-400 system, which military analysts have already called a “game-changer,” was essential in stopping a number of threats coming from the other side of the border, such as drones and missile assaults.

The S-400’s Moment to Shine

The S-400 demonstrated its lethal efficiency and real-time fighting readiness during Operation Sindoor. The system, equipped with 40N6 and 48N6 missiles, effectively stopped a number of inbound threats before they could reach Indian airspace. An important deterrent in the operation was its capacity to track, engage, and destroy targets up to 400 km away.

Defence sources claim that “the S-400 batteries responded with precision and were strategically positioned in the northern and western sectors.” The air defence net prevented every hostile shot from passing through.

In addition to securing crucial Indian infrastructure and assets, this show of force highlighted the technological advantage that the S-400 has given India’s military in regional wars.

Enter the S-500 Prometheus: The Next-Gen Shield

Encouraged by the S-400’s effectiveness on the battlefield, Indian military chiefs are now considering the S-500 Prometheus, its more sophisticated cousin. As one of the world’s most advanced air defence systems, the S-500 is said to be able to detect and destroy satellites, ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and even stealth aircraft at up to 200 kilometres in altitude and more than 600 kilometres in range.

India, a significant defence ally and long-time buyer of Russian military equipment, is high on the list of strategic allies that Moscow may consider limiting supplies to, even though Russia has so far primarily kept the S-500 for its own military.

According to analysts, India’s layered air defence system would be greatly strengthened by the purchase of the S-500, enabling it to combat new threats from both state and non-state actors, particularly in a region that is becoming more unstable.

Pakistan’s Paradox: Defence Hike Amid Economic Decline

Pakistan’s response to Operation Sindoor, on the other hand, has been twofold: diplomatic posturing and an unexpected internal decision to boost defence spending in spite of the nation’s unstable economic situation.

By most measures, Pakistan’s economy is on life support due to its declining foreign reserves, skyrocketing inflation, and many IMF bailouts. However, the government authorised a significant increase in the nation’s defence budget in an emergency meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This decision has drawn criticism from both domestic and foreign quarters.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Pakistani defence official said, “Operation Sindoor has shaken our security establishment.” The Indian reaction was both technically sound and quick. Even if it means making tough financial decisions, we must equal that threat.

Nonetheless, detractors contend that raising defence expenditures at the expense of social assistance and economic recovery could cause the nation to become even more unstable. Opposition leaders and civil society organisations have denounced the action as “dangerous and shortsighted.”

Regional Implications

There will undoubtedly be wider regional repercussions from India and Pakistan’s evolving defence strategies. South Asia appears to be entering a new phase of military modernisation, with China also updating its air and missile defence capabilities. In this period, missile defence systems serve as active diplomatic and power-projecting tools in addition to being deterrents.

India’s strategic calculations with China may change as a result of its possible procurement of the S-500, particularly near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). India will join a very select few countries with the capacity to intercept satellites in low Earth orbit as well as high-speed threats.

Final Thoughts

The significance of sophisticated air defence systems in contemporary combat has been emphasised once more by Operation Sindoor. The success of the S-400 has given India the opportunity to pursue more ambitious defence procurement plans and potentially gain a sustained strategic advantage in the area. The message is obvious as New Delhi turns to the S-500 Prometheus: India is becoming ready for future conflicts as well as today’s challenges.

Although Pakistan’s fiscal response makes sense from a security perspective, it might have significant internal costs if it isn’t combined with more extensive economic reforms. Defence may be the queen on the geopolitical chessboard of South Asia, but the nation’s general stability and resilience remain the king.