In a high-level bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers’ Summit in Qingdao, India and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to defence cooperation, with a key focus on the timely delivery of the remaining S-400 Triumf air defence systems and future missile supply agreements.
🛡️ S-400 Delivery Timeline Confirmed
Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov assured his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh that the fourth and fifth S-400 squadrons—delayed due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict—will be delivered by 2026–27. India had signed a $5.43 billion deal in 2018 for five squadrons, of which three have already been deployed in strategic zones across northwest and eastern India.
“We had insightful deliberations on boosting India-Russia defence ties,” Singh posted on X after the meeting.
Each S-400 squadron includes two missile batteries with 128 missiles, capable of intercepting aerial threats at ranges of 120 to 380 km, and forms the outermost layer of India’s integrated air defence network.
🚀 Broader Defence Cooperation
The ministers also discussed:
- Upgrades to Su-30MKI fighter jets
- Procurement of critical missile systems
- Counterterrorism collaboration
- Fast-tracking indigenous air defence projects, including DRDO’s Project Kusha, which aims to deploy a 350-km range system by 2028–29
⚔️ Strategic Context: Operation Sindoor
The talks follow Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strikes against Pakistan in May 2025. The S-400 systems played a pivotal role in intercepting enemy drones and missiles, reinforcing their strategic value. Pakistan had claimed to destroy an S-400 battery at Adampur, but PM Modi’s visit to the base and photo op with the launcher refuted the claim.
🌐 Geopolitical Significance
With rising tensions in the region and evolving security dynamics, the reaffirmation of the S-400 deal and broader defence cooperation signals India’s intent to balance foreign partnerships while accelerating self-reliance in defence.
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