India to procure two more S-400 from Russia, plans to upgrade Su-30 MKI

Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov assured his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh that the remaining two squadrons of S-400 missile systems will be delivered by 2026-27, despite delays caused by the Russia-Ukraine war. The two held high-level talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in China and reaffirmed their long-standing defence partnership.

During the meeting, India also formally expressed its intent to procure two additional S-400 systems, following their successful deployment during Operation Sindoor earlier this year. The S-400 system, capable of detecting targets up to 600 km away and intercepting them at ranges of up to 400 km, played a crucial role in India's air defence posture during the May 7–10 military standoff with Pakistan.

Russian defence minister has assured Rajnath Singh that the remaining two squadrons of the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems—part of a USD 5.43 billion deal signed in 2018—will be delivered by 2026-27. The deliveries had been delayed due to supply chain disruptions caused by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. India has already received three of the five units.

The discussions also covered the modernisation of India's fleet of approximately 260 Su-30 MKI fighter jets. These Russian-origin aircraft, which were instrumental during Operation Sindoor, are set to undergo significant upgrades aimed at enhancing their combat capabilities. The talks included plans for co-production of air-to-air missiles and other critical military hardware.

Rajnath Singh also held separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Belarus, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan, reinforcing India's commitment to defence cooperation across the SCO region. He highlighted India’s progress in domestic defence production and reiterated the need for technical collaboration in modern warfare capabilities.

Meanwhile, India is developing its own air defence system, Project Kusha, with operational deployment planned for 2028-2029. The country is also exploring other defence technologies, including hypersonic missiles and drone warfare capabilities.

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