India buys 5 more S-400 systems from Russia
India has started negotiations with Russia to buy five more S-400 air defense systems.
According to RIA Novosti on October 6, the Hindustan Times newspaper quoted defense sources as saying that India has begun negotiations with Russia to purchase five more S-400 air defense missile systems.
"Senior Indian defense officials will meet their Russian counterparts this week to explore the possibility of jointly producing, or directly purchasing, five more S-400 air defense missile systems from Moscow, to enhance India's long-range defense capabilities," Hindustan Times reported.
Sources close to the talks said the parties have reached an agreement in principle on the cost of the additional systems. "Though the final agreements are yet to be signed, three of the five systems are likely to be purchased directly, while the remaining two may be manufactured in India by private companies under a technology transfer agreement," Hindustan Times reported.
The deal on the new S-400 system is expected to be finalized before Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in December 2025.
Russia and India signed a contract for the supply of S-400 systems in October 2018. If the two sides reach an agreement in the near future, five S-400 systems will cost $5.43 billion to be transferred to New Delhi.
India has become the third foreign customer of these Russian systems, after China and Türkiye. India has also put the first three missile systems into operation. According to Indian media, the delivered systems are deployed in such a way that they can cover the Ladakh region bordering China, as well as India's border with Pakistan.
