In light of growing bilateral ties, India has pushed Russia to accelerate the delivery of the S-400 air defense missile systems. This request is made because the ongoing war in Ukraine has caused a delay in the delivery timeline for the remaining two squadrons. These systems were originally scheduled for delivery by 2024, however the fourth and fifth squadrons’ delivery dates have been moved to March and October 2026, respectively.
With the ability to target aircraft threats up to 400 kilometers distant, the S-400 system is an essential part of India’s defense strategy. Three of the five squadrons that were ordered have already been operationalized and placed around India’s borders with Pakistan and China. According to the Indian Air Force (IAF), these systems are essential for
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has emphasized the value of military-technical cooperation with India and stated that Russia is dedicated to meeting its contractual responsibilities regarding these deliveries. In talks between the two countries, Indian authorities have emphasized how urgent it is to fulfill IAF requirements and asked Russia to think about moving up the delivery schedules.
