Following the decisive performance of the S-400 Triumf air defence system during the recent "Operation Sindoor" conflict with Pakistan, India is preparing to initiate a major defence procurement proposal.
According to high-level sources, New Delhi intends to acquire five additional squadrons of the Russian-made surface-to-air missile system. This proposal is expected to be a primary agenda item when Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on December 5.
Combat Proven: The 'Sudarshan Chakra' Effect
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has reportedly been impressed by the system's battlefield efficacy. Known within Indian service as the "Sudarshan Chakra," the S-400 played a critical role in establishing air superiority along the western frontier in May 2025.During the conflict, the system was deployed at strategic forward bases, including Adampur. It effectively neutralized aerial threats, with reports confirming the destruction of high-value Pakistani assets.
Speaking at the 16th Air Chief Marshal L.M. Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru on August 9, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh described the system as a "game-changer."
The Air Chief highlighted that the S-400 was responsible for downing at least five advanced combat aircraft, specifically targeting the F-16 and JF-17 fleets. Furthermore, the system successfully intercepted a Saab 2000 Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
Record-Breaking Engagement
A standout moment in the system's operational history was the interception of a hostile electronic intelligence (ELINT) or AEW&C platform at a distance of 314 kilometres.Defence experts note that this engagement represents the longest-range kill ever recorded by a ground-based air defence system in combat history, validating the lethality of the system’s long-range interceptors.
Beyond anti-aircraft operations, the S-400 demonstrated robust anti-missile capabilities. It reportedly intercepted a Chinese-manufactured CM-400AKG anti-ship missile that had been fired toward an Indian airbase, thereby protecting critical ground infrastructure.
The sheer range of the S-400 forced the opposing air force to alter its tactics significantly.
"The range of that system has really kept their aircraft away from their weapons like those long-range glide bombs... they have not been able to use any one of those because they have not been able to penetrate the system," ACM Singh stated.
Strategic Procurement and Maintenance
The original contract, signed in 2018 for roughly $5.4 billion (₹40,000 crore), included five squadrons. While three are currently operational—guarding the National Capital Region and western borders—the delivery of the final two units was delayed due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.Moscow has recently assured New Delhi that these remaining units will be delivered by November 2026.
The new proposal for five additional squadrons is estimated to exceed $5 billion in value. To ensure the long-term sustainability of these systems, the Defence Ministry has also approved a comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC).
This agreement includes a commitment from Russia to set up a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility within India. This facility is expected to be established at the Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) campus in Hyderabad, facilitating indigenous servicing and future upgrades.
Replenishing Reserves
In light of the ammunition expended during Operation Sindoor, the Defence Ministry has cleared a ₹10,000 crore procurement plan to restock S-400 missiles. This move aims to build substantial war reserves to handle future sustained conflicts.The S-400 system is renowned for its layered defence capability, utilizing four different missile types to engage targets at ranges of 120 km, 200 km, 250 km, and 380 km.
It is capable of tracking threats up to 600 km away and can simultaneously engage a variety of targets, including fighter jets, ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Despite propaganda claims from Pakistan suggesting an S-400 battery was destroyed during the conflict, open-source intelligence and satellite imagery analysis have debunked these assertions, identifying the imagery circulated as routine maintenance activity rather than battle damage.
