On the back of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is now going for two additional S-400 missile defense systems straight from Russia—or maybe even the latest S-500. This follows the S-400’s robust battlefield performance during the May 7–10 engagement when several enemy aircraft were intercepted before they could enter Indian airspace (India Today, Republic World
The Strategic Push
The upgrade comes in the wake of universal praise for the S-400’s performance during Operation Sindoor, where the system eliminated several airborne threats with accuracy, enhancing people’s and the military’s confidence in its induction. This achievement has prompted the IAF to acquire a more potent defense umbrella along vulnerable borders, as well as initiate negotiations on whether the next-generation S-500, which can target hypersonic targets, should be included in the upgrade (The New Indian Express, Republic World).
High-Level Discussions with Russia
In recent meetings on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ conference, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was assured by his Russian counterpart, Andrey Belousov, that the last two S-400 squadrons under the 2018 agreement will reach India between 2026–27. In parallel, India expressed its willingness to buy two more batteries under a direct government-to-government arrangement, skipping long tender procedures (ThePrint, Times of India).
Deployment and Future Plans
India currently has three active S-400 systems installed to protect against western and northern air threats. The arrival of the last two units under contract will take it to five, and further acquisitions would enormously enhance India’s air defense system, particularly if combined with the planned S-500 batteries. Such an increase would augment India’s multi-tiered air defense umbrella, which currently boasts indigenous platforms such as the Akash and the soon-to-be launched Sudarshan Chakra Mission (India Today, The New Indian Express).