India to Procure Additional S-400 Squadrons from Russia
India is advancing its efforts to acquire an additional five squadrons of the Russian-made S-400 Sudarshan air defence missile system. The Defence Ministry is anticipated to review and potentially approve the Indian Air Force's proposal for this acquisition soon.
Defence sources suggest that these additional squadrons aim to fortify India's air defence capabilities. They are expected to be stationed along both the eastern and western borders to provide enhanced, layered protection against airborne threats.
In 2018, India entered into an agreement with Russia to procure five S-400 squadrons. To date, three of these have been delivered and are operational, while the remaining two are yet to be received. The new proposal seeks to both accelerate the arrival of the pending systems and increase the total number of units available.
The Indian Air Force has identified the S-400 system as a critical asset due to its ability to detect and engage long-range targets including aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. Ongoing talks with Russia also involve acquiring a substantial number of additional missiles to enhance operational readiness.
Concurrently, India is also focusing on developing its own air defence solutions. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on a long-range air defence system under Project Kusha, which aims to improve self-reliance in sophisticated missile defence technology.
This proposed procurement underscores India's ongoing commitment to bolstering its integrated air defence system in response to shifting regional security dynamics.
