India seeks additional S-400 missile systems from Russia to expand its air defence shield against Pakistan
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Dmitry Shugayev, head of Moscow’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, confirmed that Russia is in discussions with India regarding the supply of additional S-400 Triumf air defence systems. India has entered new negotiations with Moscow to buy additional S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems. India is still waiting for the last two regiments of its original 2018 deal, which covered five in total at a value of roughly 5.5 billion dollars. Those remaining units should arrive by 2026 or 2027 after delays caused first by the pandemic and later by supply chain problems. Despite the slippage, New Delhi now appears willing to extend the partnership further. It is a clear sign that, from India’s point of view, the S-400 remains central to its long-term strategy for defending its skies.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
India’s S-400 Triumf air defence system, produced by Russia’s Almaz-Antey, combines mobile launchers and advanced radars able to track hundreds of targets at once and intercept aircraft, drones, cruise and ballistic missiles at ranges up to 400 km (Picture source: Russian Ministry of Defense).
The S-400, known in Russia as the Triumf, is produced by Almaz-Antey and entered service in 2007. Even almost two decades later, it is still considered one of the most advanced mobile SAM systems in use anywhere. Each regiment is built around several launch batteries. A battery includes four to six launch vehicles, each with four missile tubes, supported by a radar system, command post, and logistics vehicles. In practice, a regiment can field dozens of launchers and several hundred missiles ready to fire. What makes the S-400 attractive for India is not only its range but its flexibility. Operators can load different missile types on the same launchers. The smaller 9M96 missiles cover short to medium ranges, the 48N6 variants provide extended reach, and the larger 40N6 missile, if available, can intercept targets out to almost 400 km. This layered mix means that one unit can handle close-in threats like drones while also defending against aircraft or ballistic missiles at long range.
The radar complex that goes with the system is equally important. The 91N6E Big Bird radar can detect targets up to 600 km away and track several hundred objects at once. India has also been reported to have acquired the 92N6E Grave Stone engagement radar, which guides missiles during flight. In exercises, this setup allowed Indian crews to follow multiple simulated attacks simultaneously. Sources in New Delhi suggest interception rates of above 80 percent in some scenarios, though exact figures are always hard to confirm. The ability to handle saturation raids, when dozens of targets arrive at once, is crucial for modern air defence.
Indian officers had a chance to use the system in a real-world situation in May 2025, during a flare-up with Pakistan. According to press reports, the Indian Air Force activated the S-400’s radar coverage along the western border after signs that Pakistan might escalate. The system’s mere presence and its ability to see across the border played a deterrent role. For India, the radar picture is already a force multiplier. Linking the S-400 into the country’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) means that data from its sensors can be shared with other SAM batteries and even with fighters in the air. In effect, it becomes part of a broader defensive web rather than a standalone piece of hardware.
Mobility is another strength: the launchers and radars are mounted on heavy trucks and can be moved rapidly by road. This makes them harder to target, since their location can be changed in a matter of hours. For adversaries, planning a strike against a mobile system is far more complicated than against a fixed radar station or a permanent base. The Indian Air Force has already taken advantage of this, shifting units between different sectors during exercises to test responsiveness.
If India does buy more regiments, the tactical benefits are clear. The country could cover more of its borders with overlapping zones of protection. On the western side, this would complicate Pakistan’s planning for air or missile strikes. On the northern front, where India faces China’s growing missile arsenal, extra S-400s would help create a deeper buffer zone. In military terms, it raises the cost of any potential operation by an adversary, since aircraft could be threatened even before they reach Indian airspace. The system’s ability to track hundreds of objects also provides some resilience against modern saturation tactics, such as massed drone or cruise missile attacks.
But beyond the technical details, the negotiations carry a heavy political weight. The original S-400 deal was controversial because it put India at odds with Washington. The United States warned that buying the system could trigger sanctions under the CAATSA legislation, designed to penalise countries that purchase major Russian weapons. It also raised concerns about interoperability with Western equipment. Despite these warnings, India pressed on, arguing that it could not ignore its own security environment. With China and Pakistan both fielding advanced missiles and aircraft, New Delhi insisted that the S-400 was a necessary tool. That stance has not changed. Even as India deepens its ties with the United States, France, and Israel, it continues to rely on Russian platforms for a significant share of its arsenal.
For Russia, concluding another S-400 sale would confirm that its defence industry remains competitive in the Indian market. Despite the war in Ukraine and Western sanctions, Moscow still accounts for a major share of Indian arms imports. From 2020 to 2024, Russian suppliers provided more than a third of India’s imported weapons. New orders help sustain that role. They also signal that Moscow can continue to deliver high-end systems to partners even under difficult circumstances.
If the new talks produce a contract, India will strengthen its air defence shield at a critical moment. China is expanding its missile forces and modernising its air fleet, while Pakistan continues to acquire new aircraft and drones. For New Delhi, building a layered, flexible network that includes S-400s, indigenous Akash systems, and other imported platforms is the only way to keep pace. The S-400 is not a perfect answer, it does not cover every angle and cannot be everywhere at once, but it forces adversaries to think twice before sending aircraft or missiles into Indian airspace. In a region where deterrence often rests on credibility rather than numbers, that may be its most valuable contribution.
At the same time, the decision shows India’s broader strategy: maintaining its independence in defence choices. New Delhi wants to keep access to both Russian and Western systems, while gradually building up its own domestic industry. The S-400 purchase is part of that balancing act. For outside observers, it demonstrates that India is willing to accept political friction abroad if it believes a capability is vital at home. It reflects India’s attempt to secure its skies in a dangerous neighbourhood, Russia’s determination to remain a key supplier, and the broader shifts in global defence relationships.
Written by Evan Lerouvillois, Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group.
Evan studied International Relations, and quickly specialized in defense and security. He is particularly interested in the influence of the defense sector on global geopolitics, and analyzes how technological innovations in defense, arms export contracts, and military strategies influence the international geopolitical scene.
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Dmitry Shugayev, head of Moscow’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, confirmed that Russia is in discussions with India regarding the supply of additional S-400 Triumf air defence systems. India has entered new negotiations with Moscow to buy additional S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems. India is still waiting for the last two regiments of its original 2018 deal, which covered five in total at a value of roughly 5.5 billion dollars. Those remaining units should arrive by 2026 or 2027 after delays caused first by the pandemic and later by supply chain problems. Despite the slippage, New Delhi now appears willing to extend the partnership further. It is a clear sign that, from India’s point of view, the S-400 remains central to its long-term strategy for defending its skies.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
India’s S-400 Triumf air defence system, produced by Russia’s Almaz-Antey, combines mobile launchers and advanced radars able to track hundreds of targets at once and intercept aircraft, drones, cruise and ballistic missiles at ranges up to 400 km (Picture source: Russian Ministry of Defense).
The S-400, known in Russia as the Triumf, is produced by Almaz-Antey and entered service in 2007. Even almost two decades later, it is still considered one of the most advanced mobile SAM systems in use anywhere. Each regiment is built around several launch batteries. A battery includes four to six launch vehicles, each with four missile tubes, supported by a radar system, command post, and logistics vehicles. In practice, a regiment can field dozens of launchers and several hundred missiles ready to fire. What makes the S-400 attractive for India is not only its range but its flexibility. Operators can load different missile types on the same launchers. The smaller 9M96 missiles cover short to medium ranges, the 48N6 variants provide extended reach, and the larger 40N6 missile, if available, can intercept targets out to almost 400 km. This layered mix means that one unit can handle close-in threats like drones while also defending against aircraft or ballistic missiles at long range.
The radar complex that goes with the system is equally important. The 91N6E Big Bird radar can detect targets up to 600 km away and track several hundred objects at once. India has also been reported to have acquired the 92N6E Grave Stone engagement radar, which guides missiles during flight. In exercises, this setup allowed Indian crews to follow multiple simulated attacks simultaneously. Sources in New Delhi suggest interception rates of above 80 percent in some scenarios, though exact figures are always hard to confirm. The ability to handle saturation raids, when dozens of targets arrive at once, is crucial for modern air defence.
Indian officers had a chance to use the system in a real-world situation in May 2025, during a flare-up with Pakistan. According to press reports, the Indian Air Force activated the S-400’s radar coverage along the western border after signs that Pakistan might escalate. The system’s mere presence and its ability to see across the border played a deterrent role. For India, the radar picture is already a force multiplier. Linking the S-400 into the country’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) means that data from its sensors can be shared with other SAM batteries and even with fighters in the air. In effect, it becomes part of a broader defensive web rather than a standalone piece of hardware.
Mobility is another strength: the launchers and radars are mounted on heavy trucks and can be moved rapidly by road. This makes them harder to target, since their location can be changed in a matter of hours. For adversaries, planning a strike against a mobile system is far more complicated than against a fixed radar station or a permanent base. The Indian Air Force has already taken advantage of this, shifting units between different sectors during exercises to test responsiveness.
If India does buy more regiments, the tactical benefits are clear. The country could cover more of its borders with overlapping zones of protection. On the western side, this would complicate Pakistan’s planning for air or missile strikes. On the northern front, where India faces China’s growing missile arsenal, extra S-400s would help create a deeper buffer zone. In military terms, it raises the cost of any potential operation by an adversary, since aircraft could be threatened even before they reach Indian airspace. The system’s ability to track hundreds of objects also provides some resilience against modern saturation tactics, such as massed drone or cruise missile attacks.
But beyond the technical details, the negotiations carry a heavy political weight. The original S-400 deal was controversial because it put India at odds with Washington. The United States warned that buying the system could trigger sanctions under the CAATSA legislation, designed to penalise countries that purchase major Russian weapons. It also raised concerns about interoperability with Western equipment. Despite these warnings, India pressed on, arguing that it could not ignore its own security environment. With China and Pakistan both fielding advanced missiles and aircraft, New Delhi insisted that the S-400 was a necessary tool. That stance has not changed. Even as India deepens its ties with the United States, France, and Israel, it continues to rely on Russian platforms for a significant share of its arsenal.
For Russia, concluding another S-400 sale would confirm that its defence industry remains competitive in the Indian market. Despite the war in Ukraine and Western sanctions, Moscow still accounts for a major share of Indian arms imports. From 2020 to 2024, Russian suppliers provided more than a third of India’s imported weapons. New orders help sustain that role. They also signal that Moscow can continue to deliver high-end systems to partners even under difficult circumstances.
If the new talks produce a contract, India will strengthen its air defence shield at a critical moment. China is expanding its missile forces and modernising its air fleet, while Pakistan continues to acquire new aircraft and drones. For New Delhi, building a layered, flexible network that includes S-400s, indigenous Akash systems, and other imported platforms is the only way to keep pace. The S-400 is not a perfect answer, it does not cover every angle and cannot be everywhere at once, but it forces adversaries to think twice before sending aircraft or missiles into Indian airspace. In a region where deterrence often rests on credibility rather than numbers, that may be its most valuable contribution.
At the same time, the decision shows India’s broader strategy: maintaining its independence in defence choices. New Delhi wants to keep access to both Russian and Western systems, while gradually building up its own domestic industry. The S-400 purchase is part of that balancing act. For outside observers, it demonstrates that India is willing to accept political friction abroad if it believes a capability is vital at home. It reflects India’s attempt to secure its skies in a dangerous neighbourhood, Russia’s determination to remain a key supplier, and the broader shifts in global defence relationships.
Written by Evan Lerouvillois, Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group.
Evan studied International Relations, and quickly specialized in defense and security. He is particularly interested in the influence of the defense sector on global geopolitics, and analyzes how technological innovations in defense, arms export contracts, and military strategies influence the international geopolitical scene.
