India buys five more S-400 systems from Russia.
India has begun negotiations with Russia to purchase five more S-400 air defense systems.
According to RIA Novosti on October 6, the Hindustan Times, citing defense sources, reported that India has begun negotiations with Russia to purchase five more S-400 air defense missile systems.
"Senior Indian defense officials will meet with their Russian counterparts this week to explore the possibility of co-producing, or directly purchasing, five more S-400 air defense missile systems from Moscow, in order to enhance India's long-range defense capabilities," the Hindustan Times reported.
Sources close to the negotiations said the parties had reached an agreement in principle on the cost of the additional systems. "Although final agreements have not yet been signed, three of the five systems will likely be purchased directly, while the remaining two may be manufactured in India by private companies under a technology transfer agreement," the Hindustan Times reported.
The agreement 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 an agreement is reached between the two sides, five S-400 systems, worth $5.43 billion, will be delivered to New Delhi.
India has become the third foreign customer to purchase these systems from Russia, 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 a way that can cover the Ladakh region bordering China, as well as India's border with Pakistan.