India evaluates Russian proposal for five additional S-400 squadrons

Russia has submitted a formal proposal to India’s Ministry of Defence to supply five additional S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile squadrons. The deal, valued at over ₹50,000 crore, includes an option for joint production. This proposal follows India’s tender cleared in March 2026 and comes after the system’s performance during Operation Sindoor, where it was used to neutralize airborne threats from Pakistan.

If finalized, the acquisition would double India’s S-400 fleet to ten squadrons. The current fleet, designated ‘Sudarshan’ in Indian service, is part of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, an initiative to create a nationwide integrated air defence network to counter threats from Pakistan and China. The additional units are intended to fortify air defence shields along India’s eastern and western borders.

Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, Chief of the Western Air Command, noted the system's effectiveness during Operation Sindoor, reporting a surface-to-air missile interception of a Pakistani surveillance aircraft at a distance of 314 km. Under the original 2018 contract, India is set to receive its final squadron by November 2026. Deliveries for the new proposed contract would likely begin approximately three years after the agreement is signed.