Russia Eyes Major S-400 Expansion For India, 5 More Units In Rs 50,000 Crore Deal: Report

Russia has made a fresh pitch to India for five additional squadrons of the S-400 ‘Sudarshan’ long-range air defence system, in a proposed deal estimated to be worth more than Rs 50,000 crore.

Defence sources told ANI that Moscow’s response to India’s tender has been received by the Defence Ministry and is currently being examined.

“The Russian response to the Indian tender has been received, and it is being processed at the moment. The project is estimated to cost over Rs 50,000 crore,” the sources said.

If approved, the acquisition would significantly expand India’s existing S-400 fleet and strengthen air defence coverage along both the country’s eastern and western sectors.

S-400 GAINED PROMINENCE DURING OPERATION SINDOOR

The proposal comes after India cleared plans for five additional S-400 squadrons following Operation Sindoor, during which the Russian-origin system was a key component of India’s layered air defence network.

The S-400 was used to counter aerial threats from Pakistan during the operation. Indian officials have credited the system with keeping hostile aircraft at bay and engaging multiple targets.

Western Air Command chief Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra recently spoke about the system’s performance in an ANI podcast, claiming that an S-400 missile achieved what could be the longest recorded surface-to-air missile engagement.

According to Mishra, the system brought down a Pakistani surveillance aircraft at a distance of approximately 314 kilometres.

He also said S-400 systems were used against several Pakistani fighter aircraft, including Chinese-origin J-10 jets operated by the Pakistan Air Force.

Mishra further said Pakistan attempted to locate India’s S-400 positions by using spies and sleeper cells during the operation.

FOUR S-400 SQUADRONS ALREADY IN INDIA

India signed its original S-400 agreement with Russia in 2018 for five squadrons.

Four of those squadrons have already been delivered and inducted into service, while the fifth and final unit under the existing contract is expected to arrive by November this year, according to the sources.

Should India accept the latest Russian proposal and sign a fresh agreement, deliveries of the additional five squadrons are expected to begin roughly three years later.

The new units are likely to be positioned across India’s eastern and western fronts, adding another layer to the country’s air defence architecture.

INDIA EXPANDS MISSILE STOCKPILE AND INDIGENOUS CAPABILITY

New Delhi is also working to increase the missile inventory available for its existing S-400 systems. India is reportedly in the process of procuring more than 280 additional missiles for the air defence platforms.

At the same time, the country is pursuing its own long-range air defence capability under Project Kusha.

The indigenous programme recently achieved an important milestone after successfully intercepting a simulated target at a range of around 140 kilometres.

The parallel push for additional S-400 systems and Project Kusha reflects India’s broader effort to build a layered air defence network combining imported platforms with domestically developed technology.