- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
An Indian Air Force (IAF) team has travelled to Russia this week to inspect India's fourth S-400 air defence system, which is scheduled for deployment late in April in the country’s western theatre.
India's fifth S-400 unit, which is also a 'Triumf' from the Russian defence contractor Almaz-Antey, is set to be deployed later this year, in November. Earlier this month, India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) gave its approval for five more S-400 systems from Russia. The fourth S-400 unit will likely be stationed in Rajasthan.
With these new acquisitions, India's total number of S-400 systems will increase to 10. India originally signed an agreement with Russia for five S-400 systems in 2018, under the Government-to-Government format. Officials state that India is on track to have all procurement work for the additional systems completed in one year.
There are multiple approval levels in India's defence procurement process to guarantee the highest level of scrutiny and control. It starts with a statement of the case that provides the operational rationale for the request and justification for the purchase. The Defence Procurement Board, which has the Defence Secretary as its Chairman, provides a review of the case. The next step is to present the proposal to the DAC for Acceptance of Necessity and following that, the vendor and India will conduct a detailed discussion of costs and then seek final financial approval from the appropriate government agency. Ultimately, the final approval from the Defence Minister is granted by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
As with the previous requests by IAF for additional units of S-400 missile systems and Pantsir short-range missile systems, these two systems alone will provide a two-tiered air defence capability to eliminate any potential air threats posed by any type of airborne weapons system, as well as Kamikaze-type drones.
During Operation Sindoor in May 2025, the use of S-400 missiles against Pakistan's military aircraft and drone fleets proved invaluable when Indian Forces successfully destroyed significant numbers of Pakistani fighter aircraft, early warning aircraft, and Drones.
After successfully targeting a large payload aircraft using an S-400 missile launched from a distance of 314 km within Punjab, the PAF moved its operational aircraft, making them vulnerable to Indian Forces, closer to their respective airbases located to the west of Afghanistan and Iran.
The Indian attacks against PAF's radar systems (located in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Pasrur) on May 9-10 immobilised the PAF's ability to conduct successful combat/search operations in either country, clearly showing the deterrent nature of the S-400 Systems that have been deployed to the Adampur and Bhuj sectors.