New Delhi: India is preparing to receive the remaining units of the S-400 surface-to-air missile system from Russia, months after the air defense network demonstrated its invincibility during Operation Sindoor, effectively thwarting multiple aerial attacks from Pakistan. Negotiations are underway to accelerate the delivery, with sources indicating that one unit is expected by 2026 and the final unit by 2027, completing India’s 2018 order of five S-400 regiments.
The delay in delivery has been a matter of bilateral discussion for several years, raised during Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Moscow and in recent India-Russia defense meetings. Beyond the pending two units, India is exploring additional acquisitions of the S-400 system, which could bolster its ambitious ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ project a multilayered national defense initiative integrating advanced surveillance, cyber protection, and strategic missile coverage, akin to Israel’s Iron Dome.
Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, confirmed that negotiations are ongoing, saying, “India already has our S-400 system. There is potential to expand our cooperation in this area as well. That means new deliveries. Now, we are in the negotiation stage.”
The S-400 has been described by Indian military officials as a “game-changer.” Air Chief Marshal AP Singh noted that during Operation Sindoor, the system successfully neutralized Pakistani aerial attacks, leaving no gaps in India’s air defense. The system’s advanced radar can detect hostile activity up to 600 km, simultaneously tracking over 100 targets, and its missile range extends to 400 km, capable of destroying bombers, fighter jets, drones, early warning aircraft, and even ballistic missiles. Each S-400 regiment includes eight launch vehicles with four missile tubes each.
India initially signed the Rs 39,000-crore deal with Russia in 2018 to counter threats from both Pakistan and China. While three units have already been deployed across Adampur (Punjab), and the Eastern and Western sectors between 2021 and 2023, the final two units are still awaited. Experts emphasize that full deployment will strengthen India’s aerial shield and serve as a deterrent against future aggression.
The S-400 programme also highlights India-Russia defense cooperation, which was prominently displayed during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China. Both nations reaffirmed their strategic partnership during bilateral discussions in Tianjin, with Russia acknowledging India’s independent stance on global energy and defense priorities, including its continued engagement with Moscow despite international pressures.
As India prepares to complete its S-400 arsenal, military analysts see the system not only as a technological marvel but also as a symbol of strategic resilience, underlining India’s commitment to safeguarding its skies and deterring hostile actors with precision and authority.