India and Russia are negotiating additional supplies of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, a senior Russian defence export official told Russian state news agency TASS.
Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, said India already operates the S-400 and discussions are underway for new deliveries.
New Delhi signed a $5.5 billion agreement with Moscow in 2018 for five S-400 Triumf systems, meant to counter China’s growing military power. The deal has faced repeated delays, with the final two units now scheduled for 2026 and 2027.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in remarks published on Wednesday that India did not bow to the demands by the United States to stop purchasing resources from Russia and that Moscow "appreciated" that.
Despite growing purchases from France and Israel, Russia remains India’s top arms supplier. Between 2020 and 2024, it accounted for 36 per cent of India’s weapons imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
India and Russia, long-standing strategic partners, have collaborated on numerous defence projects. These include licensed production of T-90 tanks and Su-30 MKI fighter jets, the supply of MiG-29 and Kamov helicopters, the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (formerly Admiral Gorshkov), production of AK-203 rifles in India, and the BrahMos missile programme.
During Operation Sindoor in May, the Indian Armed Forces successfully retaliated against Pakistan. The S-400 air defence system was credited with intercepting and destroying several incoming missiles.
Source: ANI