Chinese Chips In S-400, Su-57? Concerns Surface As India Weighs 5th-Gen Jet Deal With Russia

Last Updated:February 06, 2026, 16:18 IST

Reports of Chinese components in Russia's S-400, S-500 and Su-57 sparked security concerns in India, but Russia has denied the claims

Reports suggesting that Chinese-made electronic components may be finding their way into Russia’s advanced defence platforms, including the S-400 and S-500 air defence systems and the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet, have triggered concerns within the Indian security establishment, even as Russia has firmly denied the claims and moved to reassure partners.

Speculation that Russia could be using Chinese microchips and Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) in sensitive military hardware raised questions about potential vulnerabilities in systems already in service with countries such as India. Analysts warned that if such components were embedded in critical defence platforms, they could theoretically expose systems to cyber espionage, data leaks or operational disruption during conflict.

India has already inducted three squadrons of the S-400 air defence system, with two more to follow under an existing deal with Russia. The platform now forms a crucial layer of the country’s multi-tiered air defence network. Any suggestion of third-party technological infiltration, therefore, has drawn close attention within defence circles, particularly given India’s ongoing border tensions and strategic rivalry with China.

The concerns were amplified by the global semiconductor crunch and sweeping Western sanctions on Russia following the Ukraine conflict, which led to speculation that Russia might turn to alternative suppliers for critical electronic components. Some analysts argued that reliance on Chinese electronics in high-end weapons could create long-term strategic risks for countries operating Russian systems.

However, Russia has categorically rejected these claims. Russian officials and defence industry sources have described the reports as misleading, asserting that sensitive electronic components for next-generation weapons are increasingly being produced domestically. Russia has maintained that critical microwave chips and control systems used in platforms such as the Su-57 and the S-500 are either already indigenised or are being shifted to local production.

According to these assurances, Russia aims to ensure that by the end of 2027, all key electronic components for its most advanced military platforms will be manufactured within the country. The move is being projected as an effort to secure the technological backbone of strategic weapons and reduce dependence on external supply chains.

For India, the issue carries both operational and diplomatic implications. The S-400 is already deployed across multiple strategic fronts and remains a central component of India’s air defence posture. Meanwhile, discussions have continued around potential collaboration or acquisition involving the Su-57 as part of India’s long-term fighter modernisation plans.

In that context, questions over the origin of critical components had led to quiet unease within sections of the security establishment. Any confirmed Chinese involvement in Russian weapons systems could have complicated India’s defence planning and raised broader concerns about supply chain security and system integrity.

Russia’s public denial and its stated commitment to domestic microelectronics production have therefore been viewed as an important reassurance, both strategically and technically. For India, which has relied on decades of government-to-government defence cooperation with Moscow, the credibility and security of supplied platforms remain central to maintaining trust in the partnership.

The episode also highlights a wider shift in modern warfare, where microelectronics and semiconductor supply chains have become as strategically significant as missiles, radars and engines. The reliability of code, circuits and control systems now plays a decisive role in determining the operational strength of advanced military platforms.

If Russia succeeds in fully localising production of critical chips for its defence systems within the stated timeline, the speculation over dependence on Chinese components may gradually fade.

News india Chinese Chips In S-400, Su-57? Concerns Surface As India Weighs 5th-Gen Jet Deal With Russia

Read More