Moscow: Russia will complete delivery of the S-400 Triumf air defence systems to India in 2026 under the USD 5.43 billion deal signed in 2018, according to a report by state-run TASS on Monday.
“Russia will fulfil the contract to supply India with five S-400 systems next year. Four have already been delivered, and the fifth will follow in 2026,” a defence source told the agency.
The agreement, worth about ₹40,000 crore, was signed on October 5, 2018, despite the threat of US sanctions. In March 2021, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had cautioned that the purchase could invite action under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). However, Washington has so far refrained from imposing penalties, as the deal remains incomplete.
Minister of State Sanjay Seth, representing Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the V-Day parade in Moscow this year, said the S-400s had demonstrated their effectiveness during Operation Sindoor in May. He added that India is also considering the procurement of Russia’s more advanced S-500 missile systems.
Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. The confrontation ended on May 10 after four days of cross-border drone and missile strikes, with both countries agreeing to de-escalate.
