Russia confirms new timeline for S-400 deliveries to India

Russia has confirmed that it will deliver the remaining two S-400 air defence system squadrons to India by 2027, following delays caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine. T

The announcement came during a bilateral meeting between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov on June 26, held on the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao, China, Caliber.Az reports via Indian media.

According to Indian defence officials, Russia has committed to delivering the fourth S-400 squadron in 2026 and the fifth in 2027. Under the original $5.43 billion agreement signed in 2018, all five squadrons were scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2023. India has so far received and deployed three squadrons along its western and eastern borders.

In a statement, India’s Ministry of Defence described the meeting as “one of the most important” in recent times, with discussions centred on defence production, air defence systems, air-to-air missile capabilities, and modernisation of aviation platforms.

The two ministers also reviewed the status of the Su-30MKI fleet, with India seeking accelerated upgrades. These include the installation of new radars, electronic warfare systems, and advanced missile integration to strengthen the Indian Air Force's operational readiness.

The urgency to advance such projects has increased amid a heightened threat perception along India’s borders, particularly following recent developments in May.

By Sabina Mammadli