India May Produce Hypersonic Missiles for S-400 Under Licence

Russia and India are currently holding talks on the joint production of missiles for the S-400 hypersonic surface to air missile system, which the latter signed a $5.43 billion contract for in October 2017. India is set to be the largest foreign operator of the S-400 with five battalions on order, and has a long history of manufacturing advanced Russian armaments under license. The S-400 has over half a dozen types of missiles, with ranges as low as 40km and as high and 400km. The types of missiles India has ordered and in what quantities remains unknown, but the country is not though to have purchased the platform’s most advanced and longest ranged munition the 40N6E. By deployong multiple missiles, the S-400 can singularly provide a multi layered defence.

CEO of Russia`s Rostec state arms exporter Sergey Chemezov stated regarding a potential contract for joint manufacture: “Yes, we are discussing the localization with India as well.” Citing other prominent examples of licensed production, namely the Su-30MKI heavyweight fighter of which India plans to field over 300 and the T-90 battle tank, Chemezov further stated regarding an example of joint missile production "we have developed the BrahMos missiles together with them [India], on their territory, together with their scientists.” It has been speculated that Indian S-400 systems could eventually deploy missile types which are not only indigenously manufactured, but also indigenously designed in cooperation with Russia. The 9M96E missile, with a range of just 40km, could potentially be fielded alongside or replaced by such systems. While four other countries previously acquired the S-400 from Russia, India’s long history of jointly manufacturing high end weapons systems and the sheer size of its order place it in a uniquely strong position to jointly produce missiles for the air defence system.