The conflict between India and Pakistan has proven the strength of Russian and Chinese weapons.

Author: Andrei Lezchkov

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posed for a photo in front of the Russian-made S-400 system at the Adampur Air Base, praising the system's "unprecedented power." In the latest escalation of tensions, China-made J-10C fighter jets from Pakistan also performed outstandingly. Experts believe that Russia and China will use this to strengthen their positions in the global arms market, as expensive Western weapons have failed to prove their cost-effectiveness.

Tuesday, during his speech to the military, Indian Prime Minister Modi specifically mentioned the S-400 air defense missile system purchased from Russia, stating that it played a significant role in the "Shindur" operation against Pakistan.

During his visit to the Adampur Air Base in Punjab, Modi posed for a photo in front of the S-400 system. The prime minister personally visited the base to refute Pakistan's claims about destroying an Indian Air Force base equipped with Russian MiG-29 fighters.

"Whether it's our traditional Indian air defense systems that have experienced multiple battles or our 'Akash' platforms, they have all obtained such unprecedented powerful modern defense systems like the S-400," Modi stated. He also emphasized that India possesses advanced technologies that Pakistan cannot counter.

According to Indian media reports, in October 2018, Russia and India signed an agreement to purchase the S-400 "Triumph" system, ordering five regiment-level units. Each regiment consists of 2-4 battalions, with each battalion equipped with 8-12 launchers.

Last week, relations between India and Pakistan escalated sharply. India announced the initiation of the "Shindur" military operation in response to the terrorist attack in Pulwama that killed more than 20 people. Pakistan launched the "Banayan-Ul-Markus" counter-offensive. Both sides announced a ceasefire on Saturday.

Western analysts believe that this conflict has forced the world to reassess Chinese weapons. After India launched its attack, Pakistan urgently scrambled its China-made J-10C fighter jets. According to Islamabad, five Indian aircraft were shot down by the Pakistani side, including the French-made Rafale fighter jets priced at over 200 million euros. New Delhi did not comment, but Indian media published photos of the crash site of the "Rafale" fighter jets and the recovery of debris.

According to Bloomberg, the market value of China's fighter jet manufacturer rose by 7.6 billion US dollars. Additionally, remnants of PL-15 "air-to-air" missiles were found in India. This indicates that the J-10C fighter jets are equipped with this type of missile, and it demonstrated effectiveness in its first known combat. The PL-15 missile has a maximum speed exceeding Mach 5, capable of matching Western counterparts.

Experts pointed out that days of conflict have shown that Russia and China's strategy of developing "mass-produced low-cost weapons" is correct. This will impact Western manufacturers who focus on "high-priced weapons" and countries that follow the "lean force" approach.

"India did not expect that Pakistan's fourth-generation J-10C fighter jets paired with long-range missiles would perform so well. The combination of long-range radar detection, long-range missiles, and fighter jets effectively countered India's 4++ generation 'Rafale' fighter jets. Now, India will have to reconsider its air force construction strategy," said military analyst Alexei Anpilov.

He mentioned that India spent approximately $7.4 billion to purchase 22 single-seat and four twin-seat French-made Rafale fighter jets. The recent conflict along the India-Pakistan border showcased an entire set of new intervention strategies and means.

"The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia also performed excellently, breaking through Pakistan's air defense system based on 'Red Flag-9.' Additionally, related countries' long-range drones and Pakistan's tactical missile systems also played a role," Anpilov listed.

This days-long standoff once again confirmed the patterns revealed in the Ukraine conflict – high-priced weapons are not necessarily efficient: "India's air defense system functions well thanks to the comprehensive defense system. In addition to Russian-made S-400 systems, there are also India's self-upgraded 'Buk' systems."

Alexei Kupriyanov, director of the Indo-Pacific Center of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pointed out that if Russia can reduce the cost of the S-400 system, "it will become an ideal choice for non-poor countries."

  • 51 people were killed in the Line of Control conflict in Pakistan.
  • Iran promised to promote talks between India and Pakistan.
  • The Indian military said the contact line had a peaceful night.

Kupriyanov said: "It is certainly good for weapon systems to perform excellently in actual combat, but the S-400 is costly. Its true influence may only be evident when the conflict in Ukraine ends – when Russia can supply air defense systems on a large scale to the international market."

He also emphasized that the coordinated operations of the J-10C fighter jets and missile weapons are "an excellent advertisement for the export of this outstanding aircraft."

In response to Western experts' claims that "the performance of the J-10C does not represent overall military strength" and "exported weapons have quality defects," Kupriyanov refuted that this battle result will definitely promote the export of weapons through the practical achievements of the Pakistani army.

"Currently, the global demand for 'quality and affordable' weapons is increasing day by day. Against this background, relevant countries pose a huge threat to all competitors in emerging markets. For African countries unable to afford the most advanced Western fighter jets, the complete package solution provided by relevant countries, including 'aircraft + weapons + personnel training,' is highly attractive," he analyzed.

Anpilov believes that after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Western weapon manufacturers and countries that follow the "lean force" strategy will suffer economic losses: "Western weapons performed worst in this conflict. The winners will be countries that can mass-produce low-cost weapons – primarily Russia and China, and even North Korea will benefit because it follows the same arms strategy."

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7504519758595899955/

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