The last of the five S-400 systems contracted by the Narendra Modi government in 2018 at a cost of USD 5.43 billion will reach India in November this year.
Contrary to reports in a section of the media, India has taken no decision to acquire two squadrons of fifth-generation SU-57 fighter aircraft from Russia. However, the Indian Air Force has shown interest in Moscow’s proposal as the Chinese fifth-generation J-20 fighter has been deployed by the Xi Jinping regime at Hotan, Lhasa and Nyinchi airbases in Tibet under the PLA’s Western Theatre Command.
According to authoritative sources, approval for five more squadrons of the S-400 air defence system will be sought from the Cabinet Committee on Security after the cost is finalised with Moscow and the Indian finance ministry gives its approval.
The fifth S-400 system will be deployed in India’s eastern sector facing China.
During Operation Sindoor in May 2025, the S-400 system performed prominently, with one of its long-range missiles targeting a Pakistani early airborne warning aircraft at a distance of 314 kilometres across the Indus in the Pakistani heartland.
Pakistan used kamikaze drones to target S-400 systems deployed at Adampur and Bhuj air bases. The Russian surface-to-air missile system, however, ensured that none of the Pakistani fighters could come anywhere near the Indian border for fear of being shot down.
On May 10, the Pakistan Air Force moved all its air assets to bases near the Durand Line with Afghanistan after 11 of its air bases were hit by Indian BrahMos missiles and as many as seven fighters were knocked down by Indian S-400 and Akash Tir air defence systems.
With Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to be in Delhi for the BRICS summit on September 11-13, defence cooperation between India and Russia is also expected to be further cemented in the hypersonic missile sector.
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