Indias S-400 Delivery from Russia Delayed by Three Years Amid Shifting Defense Alliances

According to a report by The Times of India, the delivery of S-400 air defense systems from Russia to India will be delayed by three years compared to the original schedule. This information comes from unnamed sources who attended a meeting between Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart, Andrei Belousov.

The delay affects a $5.4 billion contract established in 2018, which stipulated that the Russian defense exporter Rosoboronexport would provide five squadrons of advanced S-400 systems to New Delhi by 2024.

Each S-400 regiment consists of two batteries with a total of 128 missiles, capable of targeting aerial threats at distances of up to 380 kilometers (236 miles). These systems also comprise radars and all-terrain transport vehicles.

Sources who are knowledgeable about the discussions between Belousov and Singh informed The Times of India that the new deadline for deliveries is now set for 2027.

This postponement, which some sources attribute to Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine, coincides with a cooling of defense relations between the two nations.

In April, the Indian Defense Ministry made the decision to buy 26 French Rafale fighter jets for $7.4 billion instead of acquiring Sukhoi jets from Russia, as reported by Reuters.

Additionally, negotiations concerning the purchase of Russian Ka-226T helicopters and Su-30MKI fighter jets were put on hold in 2023.

In 2022, Indian military officials canceled a deal for Russian T-72 and T-90 tanks, opting instead for French Leclerc tanks, citing concerns over the Russian tanks’ suitability for mountainous terrains and their effectiveness in border skirmishes with China and Pakistan.

Furthermore, in 2023, India turned down a Russian proposal to build submarines based on the Amur-1650 design, favoring instead a purchase of six submarines from Germany’s Thyssenkrupp.

Officials from the Indian government, speaking to Reuters in 2024, indicated that New Delhi is actively looking to reduce its reliance on Russia for arms supplies.

Estimates from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) show a drop in Russia’s share of India’s defense imports, which fell from 72% between 2010 and 2014 to 36% from 2020 to 2024.

SIPRI analysts noted, «India is pivoting its arms supply relations towards Western suppliers, particularly France, Israel, and the USA.»

They added, «Even though both sides have made recent public statements affirming their friendly relations, this shift is evident in India’s new and anticipated major arms orders, predominantly from Western sources.»