Zillar Barta Desk, New Delhi : Russia has submitted a detailed proposal to India’s Defence Ministry in response to the Indian tender for the acquisition of five additional S-400 ‘Sudarshan’ long-range air defence squadrons for the Indian Air Force. The proposed project is estimated to be worth more than ₹50,000 crore, and the Russian offer is currently being processed by Indian authorities.
The proposed acquisition is aimed at further strengthening India’s layered air-defence network along both the western and eastern fronts. If the deal is concluded, India’s planned S-400 inventory would rise to 10 squadrons.
India had earlier signed a ₹51,838-crore agreement in 2018 with Russia for five S-400 squadrons. Four of those squadrons have already been delivered, while the fifth and final squadron is expected to arrive by November 2026, according to defence sources.
The decision to acquire five more systems comes after the S-400’s reported performance during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. Indian defence officials have highlighted the system’s role in countering aerial threats during the conflict. Western Air Command chief Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra has also said that an S-400 system achieved a reported 314-kilometre surface-to-air missile engagement against a Pakistani surveillance aircraft.
Deliveries under the proposed new contract are expected to begin roughly three years after the agreement is signed. India is simultaneously developing indigenous long-range air-defence capabilities under Project Kusha, while expanding its broader air-defence architecture.
The latest Russian proposal marks another major step in the long-standing India-Russia defence partnership and could significantly enhance India’s ability to detect and counter aircraft, drones and missile threats over long distances.
