The Indian government is set to initiate the procurement of around 300 missiles for the S-400 Triumf air defence system, a major replenishment move following the extensive employment of the platform during Operation Sindoor, officials familiar with the matter said.
The acquisition—valued at over ₹10,000 crore—is being processed under the fast-track procurement (FTP) mechanism and is expected to be completed within the current financial year after approvals from the Cost Negotiation Committee (CNC) and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has already accorded the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN).
Missile Stock Replenishment After Operation Sindoor
The decision to restock the S-400’s missile inventory comes after the Indian armed forces used the system extensively during Operation Sindoor, where a range of Pakistani aerial assets—including fighter jets, AEW&C aircraft and armed drones—were neutralised.
Notably, India’s S-400 system had also struck a Pakistani wide-body aircraft 314 km inside Punjab province, prompting Pakistan to shift most of its air assets westwards toward bases near Afghanistan and Iran.
The S-400’s 400 km, 200 km, 150 km, and 40 km range interceptor missiles were key to India’s air dominance, especially after strikes on Pakistani radar sites in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, and Pasrur, leading to a near absence of Pakistan Air Force activity on May 9–10.
Five More S-400 Units Under Consideration
Besides replenishing missiles for the existing five S-400 regiments, the government is also evaluating a proposal to acquire five additional S-400 systems to strengthen national air defence against enemy rockets, missiles and aircraft.
Interest in Russia’s Pantsir System
The armed forces are simultaneously assessing the Pantsir-S1 short- and medium-range missile-gun system from Russia—aimed at countering modern threats such as armed, swarm, and kamikaze drones.
The S-400 and Pantsir can be paired to form a two-layered integrated air defence network, offering comprehensive coverage against diverse aerial threats.
MALE Drone Procurement Gains Momentum
Separately, more than 20 Indian private defence firms have responded to the ministry’s RFP for 87 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones, a project worth nearly ₹20,000 crore.
Global defence giants such as Elbit (Israel), General Atomics (USA) and Bell have partnered with Indian companies to manufacture MALE drones domestically. Meanwhile, the armed forces expect delivery of 31 MQ-9B Predator armed drones by 2028–29.
No Major Russia Deals Expected During Putin Visit
Although India is also acquiring long-range air-to-air missiles from Russia under emergency procurement, officials indicated that no major defence deal is expected to be signed during President Vladimir Putin’s summit-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 5.
Other Russian proposals involving aerial, land and naval platforms remain under evaluation.
Upcoming Deployments
Two of the remaining S-400 systems contracted earlier are scheduled to be inducted next year, further boosting India’s air defence grid across critical sectors.
