India once again requests to receive S-400 interception systems from Russia.
From the website of the Economic Times of India, amid heightened security threats on the western and eastern borders, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov in the Chinese city of Qingdao on Thursday. The focus of the meeting was to review the delivery of S-400 air defense systems, the upgrade of Su-30 fighter jets, and future defense projects.
The meeting took place just weeks after India launched Operation Sindoor in response to border clashes with Pakistan. One of the focal points of the dispute was Islamabad’s claim that India’s S-400 system at the Adampur base was destroyed, a claim that was effectively denied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the site of the system.
The S-400 systems are considered vital to India’s air defense structure. Each squadron of these systems includes two missile batteries and 128 missiles with a range of between 120 and 380 kilometers. So far, three squadrons have been delivered, and Russia has promised to complete the remaining two squadrons by 2027.
In addition, the modernization of the Su-30 fighter fleet is also on the agenda. India plans to equip these fighters with advanced radars, electronic warfare systems, and new missiles.
At the same time, India is also advancing the indigenous “Kusha” project to reduce its dependence on defense imports. This long-range air defense system with a range of 350 kilometers will be deployed between 2028 and 2029.
In this meeting, Belousov, while condemning the April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir, emphasized Russia’s commitment to strengthening defense cooperation with India.
The meeting marks a new stage in the strategic cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow, which should proceed in parallel with India’s domestic defense projects.