India to Begin Formal Talks on Procuring Russian S-500 Space Warfare Missile Systems
South Asia , Missile and Space
Indian media outlets have confirmed that the country’s defence ministry is scheduled to begin formal discussions with Russia regarding the procurement of the S-500 long range air defence system. Talks will begin during a meeting in New Delhi between India's defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov December 4. The meeting will also see both sides also review delivery schedules for the S-400 long range air defence system, and further ongoing talks on the possible sale of Su-57 fifth generation fighter aircraft. Russia is scheduled to complete the deliveries of the last of ten battalions’ worth of S-400 systems by November 2026, despite growing demand from the Russian Aerospace Forces for the systems at a time when the country’s defences are under sustained pressure.
The Russian Aerospace Forces were confirmed in December 2025 to have formed their first full regiment equipped with the S-500, which was the world’s first mobile surface-to-air missile system with the ability to shoot down satellites or intercontinental range ballistic missiles. The system’s very long engagement range of up to 600 kilometres allows it to pose a serious threat to force multiplier assets such as tankers and airborne early warning and control systems that are vital to the functioning of NATO air power. The system can also employ the 40N6 long range surface-to-air missile which the Indian Air Force has already procured to equip its S-400 systems, and combat tested to shoot down a high value Pakistani support aircraft in May deep inside the country’s airspace at a range of over 300 kilometres. The missile type has also been extensively combat tested by the Russian Aerospace Forces to achieve even longer range kills in the Ukrainian theatre.
Indian interest in procuring the S-500 is likely to have been stimulated by multiple factors, one of which is China’s unveiling of the rival HQ-29 system in active service in September. The two are the only systems in the world that provide a mobile anti-ICBM and anti-satellite capability, although the United States is expected to seek to develop similar systems as part of the Golden Dome missile defence program. A further factor is the reported particularly impressive performance of the S-400 during engagements with Pakistani forces in May, contesting sharply to the underwhelming performance of India’s other high profile new air defence asset the Rafale fighter which saw between one and four shot down during the engagements. The underperformance of the Rafale, the which received little comment from Indian officials, served to further raise the perceived importance of the S-400, and is speculated to have also revived interest in procurements of more advanced Su-57 fighters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among multiple officials who singled out the performance of the S-400 for praise when commenting on hostilities with Pakistan, observing: “Platforms like the S-400 have given unprecedented strength to the country… A strong security shield has become the identity of India.” Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh in early August observed: “The S-400 system which we had recently bought has been a game changer… The kill range of that system kept their aircraft away from the maximum distance at which they could employ their long-range air-to-ground weapons, like those long-range glide bombs that they have.” The S-500’s capabilities are highly complementary to those of the S-400, and could provide a much needed improvement to air defence capabilities as neighbouring China is poised to begin fielding the world’s first sixth generation fighters from the early 2030s. Even with the Su-57 potentially entering service, the Indian fighter fleet is expected to remain well below parity in its sophistication relative to that of China, which makes the fielding of more advanced air defence systems particularly important to provide an asymmetric defence.
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