Russia and India held discussions on the delivery of the remaining batteries of the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air defense system to New Delhi, along with upgrades to the Su-30 fighter jets, according to an official statement issued on Friday.
The talks took place between Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense ministers’ meeting held in Qingdao, China, on Thursday.
“The supply of S-400 systems, upgrades to the Su-30 MKI, and the expedited procurement of critical military equipment were among the key points of discussion,” the Indian Ministry of Defense said in its statement.
India signed a $5.43 billion agreement with Russia in 2018 for the acquisition of five S-400 squadrons. Deliveries began in December 2021 with the first three squadrons, which have since been deployed along India’s borders with Pakistan and China.
The remaining two squadrons, each comprising 118 missiles, are pending delivery. Russia has reportedly assured India that the remaining systems will be delivered by 2027.
India has also operated Russian-made Su-30 fighter aircraft since 1996, and discussions on modernizing these platforms formed part of the bilateral defense engagement during the SCO meeting.
