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India Doubles Down on Russian S-400s Despite Years of Delivery Delays
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India is moving forward with plans to significantly expand its air defense capabilities by doubling its order of Russian-made S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems.
According to a report by Defense Express on March 3, citing Indian defense sources and the publication AIN, New Delhi has decided to procure five additional units of the long-range system.
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The reported decision follows a period of heightened regional tensions. Defense Express notes that the push for more S-400 units is linked to the aftermath of the “Sindhu” operation involving Pakistan.
Indian media outlets have claimed that the S-400 demonstrated its effectiveness during the confrontation by allegedly downing a Pakistani reconnaissance aircraft at a range exceeding 300 km.
While Islamabad has not confirmed such a loss, and New Delhi has similarly refrained from officially acknowledging the loss of its own assets—including reports of a downed Rafale fighter—the perceived performance of the system has reportedly solidified India’s interest in a follow-up order.
The new procurement comes at a time when Russia has yet to fulfill its original obligations to the Indian Ministry of Defense. As reported by Defense Express:
Original contract (2018): India signed a $5.5 billion deal for five S-400 batteries.
Current status: to date, India has received only three of the five contracted units.
Future timeline: Moscow has issued a commitment to deliver the remaining two batteries by the end of 2026.
Despite these delays, the proposed additional order for five more systems would bring India’s total S-400 fleet to ten units, signaling a long-term reliance on Russian integrated air defense systems.
Earlier, India finalized a $2 billion agreement to lease a Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine for 10 years, according to Bloomberg.
The vessel, expected to be delivered within two years, will primarily serve as a training platform to strengthen India’s nuclear submarine operations as New Delhi advances its long-term naval modernization program and development of a full nuclear triad.
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