Just days after the purchase of new Tunguska short-range air defense systems was confirmed, India has now moved forward with the acquisition of additional S-400 systems from Russia to strengthen its Armed Forces, following the corresponding approval by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Minister Shri Rajnath Singh. As such, the acquisition is part of a broader procurement package requiring an investment of 25 billion dollars, which also includes transport aircraft, drones, and other equipment that form part of New Delhi’s modernization plans.
Referring to this development, the Indian government stated in an official communication: “For the Indian Air Force, proposals were approved for the acquisition of medium transport aircraft, the long-range S-400 surface-to-air missile system, remotely piloted strike aircraft, and the overhaul of Su-30 engines (…) The S-400 system will counter enemy long-range air attacks aimed at vital areas, while the remotely piloted strike aircraft will enable coordinated air operations and offensive counterattacks, in addition to providing stealth intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.”
It is worth recalling at this point that India is already an operator of the Russian-made S-400 air defense systems, which it originally acquired in 2018 for around 5.43 billion dollars; reports prior to this latest purchase pointed to an amount of around 1.1 billion dollars. As was also the case on this occasion, the country did not specify the exact number of units acquired, although it was disclosed that it would be a sufficient quantity to equip around five battalions.
In explaining this acquisition of the S-400 systems from Russia, the Indian government had already pointed out that, in addition to familiarity with these assets, they had also proven effective in the most recent conflict that pitted the country against neighboring Pakistan during the so-called Operation Sindoor. As we reported at the time, Indian Air Force officials stated that those air defense systems managed to shoot down between five and six enemy combat aircraft, in addition to a transport aircraft that was also reportedly hit by the missiles.
On the other hand, as mentioned in the opening lines, it is worth highlighting that the purchase of the S-400s will be complemented by the arrival of new Tunguska air defense systems, which were also purchased from Russia. In this case, it is an operation that required the expenditure of around 47 million dollars and was finalized on March 27, likewise aimed at reinforcing existing capabilities in India’s Armed Forces. As the Ministry of Defence itself stated: “These state-of-the-art systems will enhance India’s multi-layered air defense capabilities against aerial threats, including aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles. The agreement will further strengthen the strategic defense partnership between India and Russia.”
Finally, in line with the latter, it is useful to recall that the India-Russia relationship in the field of air defense systems extends not only to land-based systems but also to those installed aboard naval platforms. Specifically, Moscow has sold its Shtil anti-air missile launch systems for around 237 million dollars, reflecting the efforts made by New Delhi to add different types of capabilities in order to consolidate its ability to respond to potential air attacks.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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