India Receives Fourth S-400 Squadron from Russia

Source: TOI

Context:

India has received the fourth squadron of the Russian-made S-400 long-range air defence missile system from Russia, as part of the USD 5.43-billion contract signed between India and Russia in 2018 for the acquisition of five S-400 regimental systems. The fourth squadron arrived in May 2026, and is expected to be deployed in an operational area shortly. Three S-400 squadrons had already been inducted into service before this; the fourth has now arrived after delays caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which had disrupted defence supply chains between Russia and several global partners.

Key Highlights

• System: S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler).
• Origin: Russian-made.
• Contract value: USD 5.43 billion.
• Number of squadrons: 5 (under the contract).

Key capabilities of the S-400:

Feature	Detail
Type	Long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system
Maximum range	About 400 km (longest-range variant)
Engagement altitude	From a few metres to 30+ km
Targets	Aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, short and intermediate-range ballistic missiles
Simultaneous targets	Can track 300+ targets and engage multiple simultaneously
Multi-layered missiles	Different missiles for short, medium, long, and very-long range
Mobility	Highly mobile, road-based; can deploy and relocate quickly

Background Concepts

What is the S-400 Triumf, and What Makes It a Top-Tier Air Defence System?

The S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) is a Russian-made long-range, mobile, surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by Almaz-Antey, designed to protect large air-defence areas against a wide range of aerial threats. It entered service with the Russian Armed Forces in 2007 and has been exported to several countries, including China, Turkey, Belarus, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and India.

What makes the S-400 a top-tier air defence system:

(a) Multi-target tracking: Can track over 300 targets simultaneously and engage multiple simultaneously.

(b) Multi-layered missile mix: The system fires different types of missiles for different ranges:

• Very long-range missile (up to 400 km), capable of engaging high-altitude, high-value targets like AWACS aircraft and refuelling tankers.
• Long-range missile (up to 250 km).
• Medium-range missile (around 120 km).
• Short-range missile (around 40 km) for close-in defence.

(c) Wide altitude coverage: From a few metres above ground (against cruise missiles) to about 30 km altitude (against ballistic missiles).

(d) High mobility: The system is road-mobile, allowing fast deployment and relocation, which makes it less vulnerable to enemy strikes.

(e) Robust radars and command systems: Each S-400 unit includes multiple radars for early warning, target acquisition, fire control, and a command-and-control vehicle.

(f) Engagement of multiple threat types: Aircraft (including stealth), drones, cruise missiles, and short to intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

Practice MCQs

Q1. With reference to the recent delivery of the fourth S-400 squadron, consider the following statements:

1. India has received the fourth S-400 air defence squadron from Russia in May 2026.
2. The S-400 deal between India and Russia was signed in 2018 for five regimental systems, worth USD 5.43 billion.
3. The fifth and final S-400 squadron under the contract is expected to be delivered in 2027.
4. The fourth squadron will be integrated with AI-enabled decision-support capabilities for threat prioritisation.

How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None

Q2. Consider the following statements about the S-400 Triumf air defence system:

1. The S-400 is a Russian-made, long-range, mobile surface-to-air missile system developed by Almaz-Antey.
2. It can engage targets such as aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and short and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
3. Its longest-range missile can engage targets up to about 400 km away.
4. The S-400 cannot track multiple targets at the same time.

Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four (Statement 4 is wrong; the S-400 can track over 300 targets simultaneously and engage multiple targets at the same time.)

Q3. With reference to India’s air defence architecture, consider the following statements:

1. The Akash missile system is an indigenous medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed by DRDO.
2. The MR-SAM (Barak-8) is a joint India-Israel medium-range air defence system.
3. Project Kusha is an indigenous long-range air defence missile project under development by DRDO.
4. Akashteer is an indigenous air-defence command-and-control system designed to integrate multiple air defence assets.

Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four

Q4. Consider the following statements about the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Indian defence imports:

1. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has affected the delivery timelines of major Russian defence systems including the S-400 to India.
2. India faces potential secondary sanction risks under the US CAATSA framework for purchasing major Russian weapons.
3. India has used the disruption as one reason to diversify its defence partnerships with France, the United States, and Israel.
4. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has fully ended India’s defence relationship with Russia.

Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four (Statement 4 is wrong; the Russia-Ukraine conflict has not ended India’s defence relationship with Russia; India continues to acquire major Russian systems, including the S-400, and remains a significant defence partner.)

Answer Key

1. (d), All four statements are correct.
2. (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because S-400 can track and engage multiple targets simultaneously.
3. (e), All four statements are correct.
4. (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because India’s defence ties with Russia have continued, not ended.