India and Russia in Talks for More S-400 Missile Systems
India is negotiating with Russia to acquire additional S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile systems, TASS news agency reported, citing a senior Russian defence export official.
“India already operates our S-400 system,” said Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. “There is potential to expand our cooperation in this area. For now, we are in the negotiation stage.”
The deal follows a $5.5 billion agreement signed in 2018, under which Russia agreed to supply India with five S-400 systems to strengthen its air defence, particularly in response to regional threats from China. However, deliveries have faced repeated delays, with the final two systems now scheduled for 2026 and 2027.
During a recent meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed strong bilateral ties. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that India had resisted U.S. pressure to halt purchases from Russia, highlighting the countries’ continued defence cooperation.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia supplied 36% of India’s arms imports between 2020 and 2024, with France at 33% and Israel at 13%.
The new talks signal India’s ongoing efforts to boost its air defence capabilities and deepen strategic ties with Moscow.
