Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
India has received the fourth regiment of the Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defence system, marking another major boost to the country’s long-range air defence capabilities. Defence sources said the first consignment of the fourth S-400 regiment arrived in India on June 3 after Indian Air Force (IAF) officials completed pre-dispatch inspections in Russia last month.
The remaining components of the regiment are expected to arrive through different ports over the coming days, with the complete delivery scheduled to be completed within this month. The newly inducted unit is likely to be deployed along India’s western frontier, close to the Pakistan border, enhancing the country’s ability to detect and neutralise aerial threats in the region.
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Known in Indian service as the “Sudarshan Chakra”, the S-400 is among the world’s most advanced air defence systems. It is capable of tracking and engaging multiple targets simultaneously, including fighter aircraft, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones and airborne surveillance platforms at ranges of up to 400 kilometres.
India signed a $5.43 billion agreement with Russia in October 2018 for the procurement of five S-400 regiments. Three regiments have already been delivered, inducted and deployed at strategically important locations across northern and eastern sectors. The fourth regiment is now in the process of being operationalised, while the fifth and final regiment is expected to be delivered by the end of 2026, completing the contract.
Deliveries under the original schedule were expected to conclude by the end of 2023. However, the timeline was affected by disruptions arising from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russia has since assured India that all remaining deliveries will be completed by November 2026.
The S-400 system gained significant attention during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, when it played a crucial role in India’s air defence operations by intercepting hostile aerial threats. Its performance reinforced confidence in the platform’s capabilities and contributed to the government’s decision to approve the acquisition of five additional S-400 squadrons, which would eventually double India’s planned inventory to ten units.
Integrated with the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), the S-400 forms a key component of India’s layered air defence architecture. It operates alongside indigenous and jointly developed systems such as Akash and MRSAM, creating a multi-tiered shield against a wide spectrum of airborne threats.
With the arrival of the fourth regiment, India moves closer to completing one of its most significant air defence modernisation programmes, further strengthening its ability to safeguard critical military and civilian assets along both western and northern fronts.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
