India is moving ahead with the induction of its fourth S-400 air defence system, with an Indian Air Force team currently in Russia to carry out inspections. Officials said the system is expected to be delivered by the end of April and will be deployed in the western region, likely in Rajasthan.
The fifth unit is scheduled to be operational by November. This development comes soon after the Defence Acquisition Council cleared the procurement of five additional S-400 systems from Russia, which will take India’s total inventory to 10 units. The original agreement for five systems was signed in 2018 under a government-to-government framework, and officials expect the process for the additional systems to be completed within a year.
India follows a structured defence procurement process that begins with identifying operational needs and preparing a detailed proposal. This is reviewed by the Defence Procurement Board before being placed before the Defence Acquisition Council for approval. Once cleared, negotiations are held with the vendor, followed by financial approvals and final clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security.
The Indian Air Force has also proposed acquiring the Pantsir short-range air defence system along with the S 400. These systems are designed to counter modern threats such as armed and kamikaze drones. When used together, they can form a layered defence network capable of intercepting a wide range of aerial threats.
The S-400 system has already been deployed in operations. During Operation Sindoor in May 2025, it played a key role in neutralising Pakistani fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, and drones. Reports suggest that after India used the system to strike a target deep inside Pakistan’s Punjab region from a distance of over 300 kilometres, Pakistan shifted several of its operational aircraft to bases further west near Afghanistan and Iran.
In addition, strikes on radar installations in cities such as Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, and Pasrur reportedly limited the activity of the Pakistani Air Force during that period, with concerns over India’s S-400 deployments in sectors like Adampur and Bhuj influencing their response.
