India to acquire five new squadrons of S-400 Sudarshan air defence system from Russia: Report

Russian S-400

• India to buy five more S-400 squadrons for air defence.
• Move follows S-400's success in Operation Sindoor vs Pakistan.
• DRDO developing long-range air defense under Project Kusha.

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India is fast-tracking plans to strengthen its missile shield by procuring five additional squadrons of the S-400 Triumf, known in India as the Sudarshan system. According to news agency ANI, the move comes at a time when Chinese-origin air defence systems have reportedly struggled in multiple theatres globally. The additional purchase is aimed at reinforcing India’s air defence grid along both the eastern and western fronts.

The Indian side is buying the additional five squadrons after what officials described as a major success against Pakistan during Operation Sindoor last year. During the four-day conflict, the S-400 system is said to have brought down multiple Pakistani aircraft and achieved what has been described as the longest-ever air kill — striking a high-value Pakistani spy plane at a distance of over 300 kilometres inside Pakistani territory.

Defence officials told ANI that the Ministry of Defence will soon take up the Indian Air Force’s proposal to clear the acquisition of the additional five squadrons.

These systems are expected to be strategically deployed across sensitive sectors. In contrast, during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan had deployed additional squadrons of the Chinese-origin HQ-9. However, officials claimed the HQ-9 “could not do much against the Indian aircraft when they brought down multiple terror targets inside Pakistan.”

The report also said that the HQ-9 system “also failed to protect the Venezuelan leadership during American action there last month, while they also failed during the Operation Epic Fury against Iran by the American and Israeli Air Force.”

According to officials cited in the report, the Indian air defence network not only neutralised multiple Pakistani fighter jets but also intercepted cruise and ballistic missiles launched from across the border.

The S-400 system alone is said to have brought down five to six Pakistani fighter aircraft and one surveillance aircraft during the conflict, earning it the tag of a “game-changer” within the Indian Air Force.

“The Indian Air Force is also looking to buy the missiles in significant numbers to further bolster its air defence capabilities. The discussions with the Russian side are already on in this regard and a tender for the same is being reissued very soon,” sources said. India and Russia had originally signed a deal in 2018 for five S-400 squadrons. Of these, three have already been inducted and operationalised, while two are yet to be delivered. New Delhi is now not only seeking expedited delivery of the remaining systems but also exploring an expanded order.

Meanwhile, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on an indigenous long-range air defence programme under Project Kusha, aimed at strengthening self-reliance in strategic defence technologies.