Despite the fact that russia has failed to meet the delivery deadlines for the S-400 air defense systems in the past, India is considering ordering two additional divisions. At the same time, the two already contracted divisions are scheduled for delivery in 2026–2027, meaning a total wait time of nine years.
This was reported by India Defense News. The original Indian order for five such air defense systems was signed back in 2018 with an expected completion date of 2023. However, russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has made adjustments, both in terms of supply chain disruptions due to sanctions and the need to replace the war losses.
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Moreover, classified data on the capabilities and vulnerabilities of S-400 systems in India was leaked online earlier. This was practically confirmed by successful Ukrainian strikes against such air defense systems and operational problems experienced by the Indian military.
However, it seems that none of this particularly concerns New Delhi, where additional purchases are being considered. This may be due to deteriorating relations with the U.S., leading India to strengthen its cooperation with russia.
On the other hand, India insists that the S-400 is needed to meet urgent security needs, while in 2028–2029, domestically developed anti-aircraft systems are expected to take over. However, given the peculiarities of the local defense industry, which has failed to develop a fighter engine in nearly 40 years, the proposed timelines remain in doubt.
It should be noted that the majority of India’s military assets are of russian origin, including T-72 and T-90 tanks, Su-30MKI fighter jets, and anti-ship missiles. This was largely driven by lucrative agreements that included provisions for production localization.
Therefore, russia is now trying to promote more of its weapons, even the most modern Su-57 aircraft with technology transfer. However, it is still unknown how successful such a deal will be, as India is developing its own fifth-generation fighter jet.
The key takeaway is that cooperation between India and russia in armaments is expected to strengthen further amid the evolving geopolitical landscape. This could bring additional funds and orders for the russian defense industry, which has begun to suffer from a lack of financing.
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