In the wake of the decisive role the Russian-made S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, aka Sudarshan Chakra, played in the recent military conflict between India and Pakistan, India is reportedly planning to buy a huge cache of missiles from Russia for the air defence system.
News agency ANI, quoting defence sources, said the Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking to buy missiles worth around Rs 10,000 crore to boost the country's air defence capabilities.
"The discussions with the Russian side are already on in this regard," ANI quoted sources as saying.
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The defence ministry is expected to take up the proposal by the IAF when the defence acquisition council meets sometime soon.
Earlier this month, it was reported that India was looking at procuring additional batches of S-400 after the weapon system proved to be very effective during Operation Sindoor.
India, in October 2018, had signed a $5 billion deal with Russia to for the procurement of five units of the S-400. Three squadrons of the systems have been delivered so far, and the remaining two are expected to be delivered next year.
The three squadrons are deployed at the Pathankot region, protecting the Punjab–Jammu & Kashmir sector; Rajasthan-Gujarat corridor; and Siliguri Corridor, to monitor Chinese and Bangladeshi air approaches, shielding the sensitive Northeast corridor.
A PTI report had, a few weeks ago, said the proposed procurement the additional units of the air defence system may figure in talks between New Delhi and Moscow when Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India in December.
