India, Russia defence ministers talk on S-400 air defence system deliveries and future missile supply
Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh
held high-level talks with his Russian counterpart
Andrey Belousov
on 26 June, on the sidelines of the
SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting
in Qingdao, China. This wasn't just a formal meeting—it came at a time when India is under pressure to modernise its military quickly and decisively.
The two ministers discussed a wide range of subjects, including the regional security situation,
cross-border terrorism
, and a growing list of bilateral defence priorities. Singh later posted on X, 'We had insightful deliberations on boosting
India-Russia defence ties
.'
This bilateral engagement unfolded just weeks after Operation Sindoor, India's military operation in early May in response to Pakistani cross-border hostilities. One of the flashpoints during that operation was Pakistan's claim that it had destroyed an Indian S-400 battery at Adampur airbase.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly rebutted that claim. On 13 May, he visited the Adampur airbase and was photographed standing in front of an all-terrain transporter-erector-launcher from the same S-400 system. The message was unmissable.
India's military leadership considers the S-400 Triumf vital to its national security architecture. These long-range air defence systems form the outer shield of India's integrated air defence network and are directly linked to the Indian Air Force's command and control system (IACCS).
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Each S-400 squadron includes two missile batteries loaded with 128 missiles. These can take down enemy bombers, fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, and spy planes from distances ranging between 120 and 380 km. They are also equipped with long-range radar and mobile launcher vehicles.
Russia promises full S-400 delivery by 2027
Under the $5.43 billion (₹40,000 crore) agreement signed in 2018, India was originally scheduled to receive five S-400 squadrons by the end of 2023. But the Russia-Ukraine war disrupted this timeline. India has so far received and deployed three squadrons—stationed in the northwest and east to deter threats from both Pakistan and China.
In Qingdao, Russia assured that it would deliver the fourth squadron in 2026 and the fifth by 2027. 'As per Russia, the fourth squadron will now come next year, and the fifth in 2027,' a senior Indian defence source told The Times of India.
Air superiority and the Su-30MKI upgrade plan
The Su-30MKI fighter jet fleet—India's workhorse for air dominance—was another point of focus in the Singh-Belousov meeting. India is pushing for significant upgrades to these jets, including newer radars, electronic warfare systems, and advanced air-to-air missile integration. These upgrades are vital for the IAF to keep pace with evolving aerial threats.
The need to accelerate such projects has only grown sharper following the events of May and the heightened threat environment on both western and eastern fronts.
DRDO's Project Kusha: India's homegrown shield
While strengthening foreign defence partnerships, India is also working to reduce long-term dependence on imports. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is currently developing a long-range air defence system under Project Kusha. The system is designed to intercept airborne threats up to 350 km away.
In September 2023, the Defence Ministry approved the 'acceptance of necessity' to procure five squadrons of the system at a cost of ₹21,700 crore. The government aims to begin operational deployment between 2028 and 2029.
Project Kusha is widely seen as India's response to global supply chain vulnerabilities and the need for strategic autonomy in air defence.
Defence Minister Belousov acknowledged the importance of Indo-Russian military ties and condemned the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. He expressed solidarity, calling the act 'horrendous and cowardly,' and reaffirmed Russia's commitment to deepening bilateral defence cooperation.
This meeting, officials say, reinforced the long-standing military and strategic partnership between the two nations, now entering a phase where delivery timelines and domestic defence production must move in sync.
(with inputs from TOI)
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