India-Russia defence talks: Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to New Delhi for a short 30-hour visit between December 4 and 5. Defence talks will take up most of the time, and India’s focus will stay on its air defence upgrade. The S-400 deal, new missiles, and even the Su-57 stealth fighter jets will sit at the heart of the meeting.
This visit came at a moment when India tries to keep its long defence friendship with Russia strong while also building fast partnerships with countries in the West.
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How did the S-400 Deal grow bigger?
Back in 2015, India felt rising danger from both China and Pakistan. The government decided that the country needed a stronger long-range air defence shield. This pushed New Delhi to begin serious talks with Moscow. By 2016, both sides signed an intergovernmental agreement. Then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar sped up the process even though the US warned India about possible CAATSA sanctions.
India finally signed a $5.43-billion deal in October 2018 for five full S-400 regiments. Each regiment has command posts, radar systems and missiles that can hit targets up to around 400 km away. Three regiments are already active. Two more should arrive by 2025=27, but India now wants much more than that.
The S-400 proved its value during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. The system helped India carry out a 300+ km strike on Pakistani assets. Indian officials say this showed clear deterrence and that no Western system offered the same power without strings attached.
Indian planners now prepare a request for 300 extra missiles for the current S-400 units. New Delhi is also thinking about buying five more S-400 squadrons. This would create an even thicker shield against enemy planes, drones and ballistic threats.
Su-57 and the New S-500 System
One more major topic is the Su-57, Russia’s most advanced stealth fighter jet. The Kremlin confirmed that both sides will talk about it. As spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “I have no doubt it will be discussed during the visit. The issue of Su-57s certainly will be on the agenda during the coming Putin visit to India.”
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He also said that Russia wants a defence relationship with India that faces no outside pressure. The Su-57 could give India a real fifth-generation fighter ability, something India does not yet have, even with the AMCA project moving forward.
India is also studying Russia’s S-500 air defence system. This system can intercept hypersonic glide vehicles, stop advanced ballistic missiles, handle cruise missiles and even shoot down low-orbit satellites, reported Financial Express.
A joint team from the Indian Air Force and DRDO has already visited Russia to study the system closely. Moscow has shown that it is open to full technology transfer and joint production. This fits well with India’s “Make in India” defence plan. If talks go well, India may build launch vehicles, command posts and even engagement radars at home.
