Moscow ( Web News )
According to the Russian newspaper The Moscow Times, Russia has postponed the delivery of its state-of-the-art S-400 air defense systems to India by three years. This decision followed a meeting between Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh.
The missile system was to be delivered under a 2018 agreement worth $5.4 billion, with full delivery originally expected by 2024. However, the new timeline sets the completion date for 2027. The primary reason for the delay, according to the report, is Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine, which has significantly impacted its defense exports.
This delay also reflects a broader decline in defense cooperation between India and Russia. Each S-400 unit includes two batteries, with a total of 128 missiles capable of targeting aerial threats up to 380 kilometers away. These systems also come equipped with radar and all-terrain vehicles.
In recent years, India has increasingly preferred to purchase military equipment from France, Germany, and other Western countries instead of Russia. For instance, in 2023, India opted to purchase six submarines from a German company instead of Russian ones. The procurement of French Rafale jets is another example of this trend.
This shift has been confirmed by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which reports that Russia’s share in India’s defense imports dropped from 72% during 2010–2014 to just 36% during 2020–2024.
Analysts say that India is undergoing a strategic shift in its defense policy and is now focusing more on military cooperation with Western countries, particularly France, Israel, and the United States.