It does not happen too frequently that a single weapons system alters the defense policy direction of a nation, but that is what has happened with the Indian S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’. Having entered service in Operation Sindoor where it destroyed scores of Pakistani fighter aircraft well behind enemy lines the Indian Air Force is now pressuring the government to approve a Rs 10,000 crore Russian missile purchase to further extend this capability.
This is no run-of-the-mill replenishment drill. This is an attempt to fill the gaps in India’s multi-layered air defence, introduce next-generation systems, and achieve strategic deterrence in a rapidly-trickle regional environment. The Defence Acquisition Council will consider the proposal, and President Vladimir Putin is arriving, so the stakes in the deal are far greater than metal.
1. Combat-Proven Performance in Operation Sindoor
The very initial induction of S-400 in May 2025 was routine. The system has purportedly brought down five to six Pakistani air combat aircraft and one AEW&C/ELINT platform at ranges exceeding 300 km in the four-day war. Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh called it “the longest surface-to-air kill recorded in history” (The Print), symbolizing its strategic depth. This was crippling for Pakistani aviation, crippling choices before they were even able to have a glimmer of a chance to be threatening to Indian infrastructure.
The exercise also revealed weaknesses in the multi-layered Pakistani air defense, the vast majority of which were Chinese in provenance, that were unable to even approach the multi-target track and combat proficiency of the S-400. For India, the exercise reinforced new confidence in the worth of the system as a deterrent and demonstrated it to be money well invested.
2. Bracing the S-400 Arsenal
India’s 2018 agreement with Russia for buying five S-400 squadrons for $5.43 billion has yielded three operational units so far. The remaining two have been stalled due to the Russia-Ukraine war. New Delhi is putting pressure on Moscow to hurry up deliveries while finalizing the follow-on order to buy up to five more units on the same terms.
This enhancement would stretch India’s air defense umbrella to the extended range with versatility of employment in various theatres. With S-400’s multi-layer family of missiles, ranging from the short-range 9M96E to the very long-range 40N6, the addition of more squadrons would introduce interception versatility to deal with various aerial threats.
3. An Eye on the Next-Generation S-500
Apart from the S-400, India is also eyeing Russia’s S-500 Prometey missile system. Employed to intercept low-altitude cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, and ballistic missiles, the S-500 has a range of 600 km in anti-ballistic mode and 500 km in air defense mode. The S-500 can intercept targets at 180–200 km altitude and is capable of tracking up to 10 hypersonic ballistic targets in tandem, as per TASS.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov in 2021 commented that “India will be at the top of the list, if it expresses interest in buying these new-generation weapons.” A capability in an S-500 anti-satellite role would add a new dimension to Indian strategic deterrence.
4. Beyond-Visual-Range Combat Enhancement
In addition to the missile acquisition, India is negotiating to acquire next-generation air-to-air missiles from Russia to boost its beyond-visual-range (BVR) ability. These would complement the S-400 surface-to-air interceptor by boosting air combat envelopes of fighter aircraft.
These acquisitions would be necessary to remain even with those currently having long-range strike capability. Putting BVR missiles on India’s Su-30MKI and future ships would maintain parity or superiority on air combat of disputed airspace.
5. BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile Upgrade
The negotiations also involve the manufacture of the BrahMos series of missiles. Russia-India jointly evolved BrahMos is one of the world’s fastest cruise missiles traveling at speeds of up to Mach 3. Planned priority upgrades comprise extended-range versions and sophisticated guidance systems.
Raising the BrahMos stakes will augment India’s precision strike capability against high-value targets, complementing the S-400 and planned S-500 defensive cover.
6. Induction into Multi-Tiered Air Defence of India
Indian air defence setup is a multi-layer combination of the indigenous systems like Akash and QRSAM and imported systems like Barak-8 and SPYDER. S-400 is an extended range system capable of engaging targets till 400 km.
Integration of additional S-400s and even the S-500 into the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) would be used to provide interoperability with the other layers so that response in a timely fashion and resource allocation can be facilitated in multi-vector attacks.
7. Strategic and Diplomatic Dimensions
India-Russia defence ties are old and most of the Indian Air Force’s strike capabilities are of Russian origin. The missile deal cemented this partnership at a time when geopolitical fault lines are being redrawn. President Putin’s visit to India in December will likely seal missile system purchases, co-production, and technology transfers. The acquisition is as much for New Delhi with regard to securing a reliable supply line as it is to achieve enhanced capability.
The Rs 10,000 crore S-400 Sudarshan Chakra missile purchase is no run-of-the-mill defense transaction it is a mission statement. Scaling up tried and tested capabilities, bringing in the latest systems, and solidifying strategic alliance with Moscow, India is positioning itself to counter-rising air threat with multi-faceted precision. With aerial power having the potential to prove the game-changer in combat, it is timely and unavoidable.
