India and Russia are once again discussing a deal for the "Voronezh-DM" missile attack warning radar, which is capable of monitoring airspace at a range of over 6000 km. After a pause, the project returned to negotiations not as a separate purchase: the Russian proposal was expanded to include the S-500 system and Su-57E fighters.
The key argument for "Voronezh-DM" is not only its enormous range but also the time advantage for reaction.
According to IDRW, the station should detect ballistic missiles and stealthy aerial targets at a significantly greater distance than existing Indian radars, giving command minutes of warning instead of seconds.
The radar belongs to over-the-horizon systems: it uses radio signal reflection from the ionosphere, which allows it to monitor space beyond the line of sight.
Negotiations for "Voronezh-DM" began in December 2024 after Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Russia. A delegation from Almaz-Antey, led by Deputy Chairman of the Board Vladimir Medovnikov, then visited India for talks with potential Indian partners. The value of the proposal was estimated at approximately $4 billion, and at least 60% of the radar's production was planned to be localized in India under the Make in India program.
The project effectively stalled for some time but has now returned amidst broader Russian-Indian negotiations. IDRW links it to the potential acquisition of S-500 and Su-57E: the radar should detect threats in advance, and interceptors should use the received data. However, there is no official confirmation of a new contract yet.