India’s regional defence strategy, the Indian military has deployed the Russian-built S-400 Triumf long-range air defence system to the Siliguri Corridor—a geographically narrow but strategically vital land bridge in northern West Bengal. Commonly referred to as the “Chicken’s Neck,” this corridor, stretching just 20–22 kilometers in width, connects mainland India to its northeastern states and has long been considered one of the nation’s most fragile geopolitical chokepoints.
The placement of the S-400 system in this precarious strip underscores India’s intent to assert control over its vulnerable flank, which sits adjacent to volatile borders shared with China, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The S-400, capable of intercepting aerial threats from up to 400 kilometers away, is now tasked with safeguarding this vital corridor amid escalating tensions.
Indian military planners have long warned of the existential threat posed by the corridor’s geography. A well-executed military thrust—particularly from China through the Doklam Plateau—could effectively sever the northeast from the rest of India. This hypothetical scenario, often studied in Indian defence war-gaming exercises, would leave over 45 million Indian citizens cut off and vulnerable, with disastrous economic and military consequences.
The recent increase in Chinese aerial reconnaissance and military exercises near the tri-junction of India, China, and Bhutan has only heightened New Delhi’s concerns. Adding to the unease are signs of shifting allegiances in Bangladesh, where an interim administration led by Mohammad Yunus has taken a conspicuous pro-China and pro-Pakistan turn, altering the strategic balance in India’s eastern theatre.
The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s pro-India government has been followed by a series of overtures from the caretaker regime in Dhaka towards China and Pakistan. These include discussions on joint military exercises, arms procurement, and infrastructure partnerships—developments that have set off alarm bells in New Delhi.
Particularly worrisome is Bangladesh’s consideration of a Chinese-supported airbase in Lalmonirhat, just 40 kilometers from the Siliguri Corridor. Satellite imagery and intelligence intercepts suggest preliminary groundwork for this base may already be underway. If operationalized, such a facility could allow Chinese surveillance and strike aircraft to monitor or even threaten the corridor directly.
India’s concern is not merely hypothetical. It stems from a pattern of strategic encirclement that many in the Indian defence community associate with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Although Bangladesh is not formally part of BRI, the nature of its emerging partnerships bears the hallmarks of Beijing’s strategy of embedding dual-use infrastructure—ostensibly civilian but adaptable for military use.
The S-400 deployment serves as a formidable deterrent to aerial incursions. With the ability to track up to 80 targets and engage 36 simultaneously, the system can neutralize threats ranging from stealth aircraft to cruise missiles. Its range extends well beyond India’s borders, giving the Indian Air Force (IAF) a preemptive edge.
The S-400’s location in Siliguri means it could cover much of northern Bangladesh, southern Tibet, and parts of Nepal and Bhutan. According to defence analysts, this is not just a defensive measure—it’s a strategic message to adversaries that any airborne aggression will meet a swift and overwhelming response.
Supporting the S-400 deployment is an array of complementary platforms: India has stationed a full squadron of Rafale fighter jets at Hashimara Airbase, just 80 km from the corridor. These aircraft—armed with SCALP cruise missiles and Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles—are built for precision engagement and air dominance.
India’s integrated air defence system (IADS) in the region now incorporates Akash surface-to-air missiles, SHORAD and VSHORAD batteries, and mobile radar platforms. This network can detect, track, and engage incoming aerial threats at multiple altitudes and distances, creating a multilayered defence matrix that’s hard to overwhelm.
For offensive deterrence, a BrahMos cruise missile regiment has been deployed within strike range of key infrastructure and potential staging areas across the border. The BrahMos, jointly developed by India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia, can reach speeds of Mach 3 and delivers pinpoint accuracy within a 300–500 km radius. Its presence is a clear signal of India’s readiness to respond not just defensively, but preemptively.
Complementing the air and missile shield is a robust ground presence anchored by the Trishakti Corps, headquartered at Sukna. This corps is equipped with T-90 Bhishma tanks, BMP-2 mechanized infantry vehicles, and long-range artillery units capable of engaging targets across difficult terrain.
Additionally, the mountain-warfare–oriented XVII Corps, dubbed the ‘Brahmastra Corps,’ has been permanently stationed at Panagarh, West Bengal. This unit, India’s first dedicated mountain strike corps, includes elite infantry divisions, air assault brigades, and integrated helicopter aviation components. Its mandate is to undertake swift counter-offensives in the Himalayan theatre, especially along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
These formations regularly conduct live-fire exercises and integrated battle group (IBG) manoeuvres, fine-tuning interoperability between armour, artillery, infantry, and air elements.
One of the most alarming developments in recent months has been the aggressive use of surveillance drones by Bangladesh near Indian territory. In one such incident, a Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone, operated by the Bangladesh Army, reportedly breached Indian airspace along the Meghalaya border. The drone—carrying transponder ID TB2R1071—was tracked conducting ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) sweeps across Tripura, Mizoram, and parts of Assam.
Indian officials swiftly issued warnings to Dhaka, citing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that prohibit unmanned aerial vehicles within 10 kilometers of the international boundary. The incident prompted an immediate tightening of aerial surveillance and electronic warfare (EW) coverage along the entire eastern frontier.
India’s concerns have deepened following reports that Bangladesh intends to acquire up to 32 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets. Co-developed by China and Pakistan, the JF-17 is a multirole aircraft equipped with Chinese AESA radars, electronic warfare pods, and beyond-visual-range missiles. A squadron of these fighters based in northern Bangladesh would place Indian airbases and critical infrastructure under direct threat.
The tension reached a new level earlier this year when a delegation from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) visited Dhaka. The four-day trip, led by Major General Shahid Amir Asfar, reportedly involved discussions on intelligence sharing and joint counterterrorism operations—a cover many Indian analysts believe masks deeper strategic coordination.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded cautiously but firmly, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating: “We are closely monitoring all developments in the region. The Indian government will act decisively as needed.” This marked one of the clearest public signals yet that India considers recent developments in Bangladesh as national security threats, not just diplomatic irritants.
The concept of a two-front war—long a concern of Indian defence planners—is rapidly becoming a real-world scenario. With China assertive on the LAC and Pakistan probing India’s western flanks, the addition of a Bangladesh-Pakistan-China axis in the east dramatically complicates India’s defence calculus.
To counter this emerging threat, the Indian Armed Forces have shifted towards a doctrine of multi-domain deterrence. This includes real-time ISR integration, cyber and electronic warfare capabilities, and enhanced jointness among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Further, India has accelerated the fortification of key roads, tunnels, and rail links across the Siliguri Corridor to ensure redundancy and rapid troop movement in the event of conflict.
India’s decision to deploy the S-400 to the Siliguri Corridor is not just a tactical manoeuvre—it is a strategic declaration. In a region increasingly shaped by alliances, proxy manoeuvres, and technological warfare, New Delhi is drawing a red line. The corridor will not be allowed to fall, and any misadventure—whether from the north or the east—will be met with full-spectrum retaliation.
