India and Russia in Talks for Additional S-400 Missile Systems

Negotiations are underway between India and Russia concerning the potential for increased deliveries of the S-400 Triumf missile defense system. Discussions are ongoing to expand cooperation in this area, which could lead to further acquisitions of the advanced air defense platform. The announcement comes as India already possesses the S-400 system, with a focus on potentially augmenting its current capabilities. This development follows a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China. India signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia in 2018 for five squadrons of the S-400 Triumf missile system, and three squadrons have already been delivered. The system, also known as “Sudarshan Chakra” in India, is capable of engaging multiple aerial threats and has been credited with intercepting drones. The remaining deliveries of the S-400 systems are expected to be completed in 2026 and 2027, with the final two units slated for arrival within this timeframe.