India approves purchase of 288 S-400 missiles worth Rs 10,000 crore: Report

India is already scheduled to receive two more S-400 systems - already under contract - in June and November this year

• India to buy 288 more S-400 missiles from Russia for ₹10,000 crore
• Procurement includes 120 short-range and 168 long-range missiles
• AoN granted for Rafale jets, MRFA, and IAF combat missiles

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The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procuring 288 additional S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia at an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore, a Hindustan Times report said on Friday.

Sources told Hindustan Times that the clearance covers 120 short-range missiles and 168 long-range missiles. The procurement will be executed under the Fast Track Procedure (FTP). The report added that India is scheduled to receive two more S-400 systems - already under contract - in June and November this year.

Hindustan Times further reported that the Indian Air Force is pushing for the acquisition of five more S-400 systems from Russia, along with the Pantsir short-range air defence system. The Pantsir system is designed to counter armed and kamikaze drones. When integrated, the S-400 and Pantsir platforms can create a layered air defence shield capable of neutralising aerial threats launched from across the border.

Detailing the procurement framework, Hindustan Times explained that India's defence acquisition process follows multiple levels of scrutiny. It begins with a Statement of Case outlining operational requirements and justification. The proposal is then examined by the Defence Procurement Board, chaired by the defence secretary, before being placed before the DAC for AoN. Once approved, commercial negotiations are held with the vendor, followed by financial sanction from the competent authority and final approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security.

An official statement issued on Thursday said the defence minister approved AoNs for several proposals with a total estimated outlay of around Rs 3.60 lakh crore. For the Indian Air Force, AoN was granted for the procurement of Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA), Rafale jets, combat missiles, and an Air-Ship-Based High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite system.

The defence ministry said the MRFA procurement would significantly enhance the IAF's air dominance capabilities across the spectrum of conflict and strengthen its long-range strike deterrence. A majority of these aircraft are expected to be manufactured in India. The approved combat missiles are intended to bolster stand-off ground attack capability with deep-strike precision.

For the Indian Army, AoN was cleared for anti-tank mines (Vibhav) and the overhaul of Armoured Recovery Vehicles, T-72 tanks, and BMP-II Infantry Combat Vehicles. The Indian Navy received approval for a 4 MW Marine Gas Turbine-based Electric Power Generator and additional P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft.

Hindustan Times reported that replenishing stocks of the S-400's 400 km, 200 km, 150 km and 40 km range missiles was considered essential after the Indian armed forces deployed the system extensively during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. The air defence platform was used to intercept Pakistani fighter jets, airborne early warning aircraft, intelligence-gathering planes and armed drones during the operation.

The report also noted that after India struck a large aircraft inside Pakistan's Punjab province at a distance of 314 km using an S-400 long-range missile, Pakistan reportedly repositioned a significant portion of its operational aircraft to airbases in the western sector near Afghanistan and Iran.