Russia Submits Bid for India’s ₹50,000-Crore Plan to Buy Five More S-400 Squadrons

Russia has submitted its formal response to India’s tender for five additional squadrons of the S-400 long-range air defence system, setting up the next stage in what could become one of the country’s largest air defence procurements in recent years.

Defence sources cited by ANI said the Russian response has been received and is now being processed. The proposed deal is estimated to be worth more than ₹50,000 crore, placing it among the most expensive air defence programmes currently under consideration by India.

The new procurement was cleared by India in March 2026, shortly after Operation Sindoor. Officials have described the plan as part of a broader effort to deepen India’s layered air defence shield and improve its ability to deal with multiple kinds of airborne threats.

If the follow-on purchase goes through, the additional S-400 systems would extend India’s coverage along both the western and eastern fronts. The system is designed to detect and engage hostile aircraft, missiles and other aerial targets at long ranges, giving commanders greater flexibility in responding to fast-moving threats.

India already operates four S-400 squadrons under a 2018 agreement with Russia. That original contract covered five squadrons in total, and defence sources said the fifth and final squadron from the first deal is expected to be delivered by November 2026.

The proposed second tranche would substantially enlarge India’s existing long-range air defence inventory. According to the source material, if the contract is signed, deliveries of the five new squadrons are expected to begin about three years later.

The S-400 has received renewed attention after Operation Sindoor, during which it was part of India’s integrated air defence network amid Pakistani aerial activity. Indian officials and defence sources have since highlighted the system’s role during the operation.

Western Air Command chief Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra had claimed that an S-400 system conducted a surface-to-air missile engagement against a Pakistani surveillance aircraft at a range of around 314 kilometres. He also said the system engaged several Pakistani fighter aircraft, including Chinese-origin J-10 aircraft operated by the Pakistan Air Force.

Those claims were made by Indian defence officials and should be read in that context, as the available information does not independently verify the details of the individual engagements.

Alongside the possible expansion of the S-400 fleet, India is also looking to increase the stock of missiles used by the system. The country is reportedly pursuing more than 280 additional missiles to ensure adequate inventories for sustained deployment and operational readiness.

The planned expansion of the Russian-made system sits alongside India’s longer-term push to build indigenous long-range air defence capability. Under Project Kusha, India is developing a domestically produced long-range surface-to-air missile system intended to reduce reliance on foreign platforms over time.

Project Kusha has already reportedly reached an early development milestone, including the engagement of a simulated target at a range of approximately 140 kilometres. The programme is expected to become an important part of India’s future multi-layered air defence structure.

Seen together, the additional S-400 acquisition and Project Kusha point to a two-pronged approach: reinforcing near-term defensive capability with a proven system while building an indigenous base for the longer term.

The proposed five-squadron purchase would add depth to India’s air defence network while giving domestic programmes more time to mature. With Russia’s response now under review, the procurement will next move through evaluation and contractual processes before a final decision is taken.