Moscow: Russia will complete its delivery of the S-400 Triumf air defence systems to India next year under a USD 5.43 billion agreement signed in 2018, according to a report by state-run TASS news agency.
A defence source told TASS that four of the five S-400 systems have already been handed over, with the final unit scheduled for delivery in 2026. The landmark deal, worth nearly Rs 40,000 crore, was formally signed on October 5, 2018, despite strong opposition from the United States.
In 2021, then-US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that India’s purchase of Russian missile systems could trigger sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). However, Washington has so far refrained from imposing penalties, as the contract remains incomplete.
The S-400 systems have already been integrated into India’s air defence network and were deployed during Operation Sindoor in May this year. The operation targeted terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. According to Minister of State Sanjay Seth, the S-400s proved highly effective during the campaign.
Speaking at a gathering of the Indian community in Moscow during the V-Day parade, where he represented Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Seth confirmed that India is also exploring the possibility of acquiring Russia’s next-generation S-500 missile systems.
Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, marked one of the most intense episodes of cross-border hostilities in recent years. Both India and Pakistan exchanged drone and missile strikes for four consecutive days before reaching an understanding to end the conflict on May 10.
The completion of the S-400 deal in 2026 is expected to further bolster India’s air defence capabilities, even as New Delhi weighs options for more advanced systems amid evolving regional security challenges.
