New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin is in India for a two-day visit, and defence cooperation is the main focus of his meetings. Along with talks on the Su-57 fighter jet, the S-500 Prometey air-defence system has become the key subject of discussion. The S-500 is Russia’s most advanced air-defence platform and is among the few systems in the world designed to intercept hypersonic missiles and stealth aircraft.

So, why does India need this system at this point in time?

The answer lies in the vulnerabilities that have begun to trouble India’s security planners. The country is surrounded one of the world’s most hostile neighbourhoods: its Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh face China and the western front borders Pakistan.

China already deploys hypersonic missiles like the DF-21, weapon

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