On the eve of Operation Sindoor’s anniversary, the fourth Russian S 400 air defense system is en route to India and is expected to arrive at an Indian port by mid-May. The fifth S-400 system, which performed notably during Operation Sindoor, is scheduled to be shipped to India in November this year.
The Modi government has already approved the acquisition of five additional S-400 systems, which are capable of neutralizing aerial targets deep inside Pakistan, with a strike range of up to 400 kilometers.
According to official sources, Indian Air Force personnel completed the pre-dispatch inspection of the incoming S-400 system by April 18, after which the anti-ballistic missile system was shipped from Russia last week. The new system is likely to be deployed in the Rajasthan sector to strengthen missile defense against Pakistan. India has also decided to procure 280 short and long-range S-400 missiles to replenish stocks used during Operation Sindoor and to build a reserve of stand-off weapons, as the operation is still ongoing. It is estimated that India fired 11 long-range S-400 missiles during the operation, targeting enemy fighter jets, airborne early warning systems, and transport aircraft.
During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan made repeated attempts to target two S 400 systems deployed in Punjab and Gujarat after realizing that its aerial platforms were vulnerable east of the Indus due to the system’s extended radar coverage. The perceived threat forced Pakistan to relocate its operational fighter jets and aerial assets to bases in Quetta and Peshawar to avoid potential strikes.
The fifth system is expected to be deployed in the central sector along the China front. At the same time, India is exploring the establishment of a maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility for the S 400 through the private sector, with the possibility of technology transfer also under consideration.
To enhance protection of the S-400 systems and strengthen defense against drones and loitering munitions, India is planning to procure at least 12 Pantsir air defense systems from Russia through a government-to-government deal, while also manufacturing an additional 40 systems domestically under the Make in India initiative.
