Russia has submitted a detailed proposal in response to India’s tender for 5 additional S-400 Sudarshan long-range air defence squadrons. The Defence Ministry is processing the response for a project estimated to cost over Rs 50,000 crore, according to defence sources cited in the report.
The proposal concerns a planned expansion of India’s layered air defence network. The additional S-400 units are expected to be positioned across the country’s eastern and western fronts, strengthening coverage in both directions.
Status of India’s existing S-400 order
India signed its first S-400 contract with Russia in 2018. 4 of the 5 squadrons covered by that agreement have already been received, while the remaining squadron is expected to be delivered by November this year.
For the new procurement, deliveries of the missile systems are likely to begin about 3 years after the agreement is signed. The Russian response is currently under consideration, and the submitted proposal does not itself indicate that a final contract has been concluded.
The S-400 is a long-range air defence system mounted on heavy military vehicles, with multiple vertically positioned missile-launch tubes. India is also buying over 280 missiles for its S-400 systems to increase the number of weapons available to its existing fleet.
Reported role during Operation Sindoor
The system was credited in the supplied defence account with playing a major role during Operation Sindoor. It was reported to have destroyed a large number of Pakistani surveillance and fighter aircraft and to have deterred other aircraft from flying within 200 km of the Indian border.
Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, chief of Western Air Command, said in a recent podcast with ANI that an S-400 achieved what was possibly the longest-ever recorded surface-to-air missile kill. He put the range of the reported destruction of a Pakistan Air Force surveillance aircraft at 314 kilometres.
Mishra also said the system had taken out many Pakistani fighter aircraft, including J-10s supplied to Islamabad by China. He further said Pakistan deployed spies and activated sleeper cells in India to locate S-400 systems during Operation Sindoor.
India’s wider air-defence plans
The planned Russian purchase is being pursued alongside domestic development efforts. India is developing its own long-range air defence system under Project Kusha, which recently recorded initial success by destroying a simulated target at around 140 km.
India also plans to create a nationwide air shield under Mission Sudarshan Chakra. Major systems for that initiative are being acquired by different agencies, according to the supplied report.
The proposed S-400 purchase therefore sits within a broader effort involving additional Russian systems, more missiles and an Indian programme for a separate long-range capability. The Defence Ministry’s processing of Russia’s proposal is the next reported stage in the tender.
Conclusion
Russia’s proposal advances India’s consideration of 5 more S-400 squadrons in a project estimated at over Rs 50,000 crore. The immediate next step is the Defence Ministry’s evaluation, while any deliveries under a new contract would come about 3 years after signing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What has Russia submitted to India?
Russia has submitted a detailed proposal responding to India’s tender for 5 additional S-400 Sudarshan squadrons.
Q. What is the estimated cost of the proposed S-400 project?
The project is estimated to cost over Rs 50,000 crore.
Q. How many S-400 squadrons has India received under its first contract?
India has received 4 of the 5 squadrons ordered under the 2018 contract. The final squadron is expected by November this year.
Q. When could deliveries under the new contract begin?
Deliveries are likely to start about 3 years after the new agreement is signed.
Q. Where are the additional S-400 units expected to be deployed?
The additional units are expected to be deployed along India’s eastern and western fronts.
Q. What range was reported for the S-400 missile kill?
Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra cited a range of 314 kilometres for the reported destruction of a Pakistan Air Force surveillance aircraft.
Q. What is Project Kusha?
Project Kusha is India’s programme to develop its own long-range air defence system. It recently destroyed a simulated target at around 140 km.
Q. How many additional S-400 missiles is India buying?
India is also buying over 280 missiles for its S-400 air defence systems.
