India will purchase S-400 systems and drones from Russia for $25 billion
29 March 02:11
India has approved the purchase of S-400 air defense missile systems, transport aircraft, and strike drones from Russia worth $25 billion as part of a large-scale program to modernize its armed forces.
This was reported by Reuters, citing a statement from the country’s Ministry of Defense, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The ministry also approved the purchase of armor-piercing tank ammunition, artillery systems, and aerial surveillance systems, as well as the acquisition of hovercraft for the coast guard and the extension of the service life of Su-30 fighter jets.
Separately, a contract worth 4.45 billion rupees ($47 million) was signed with the Russian company Rosoboronexport for the supply of Tunguska anti-aircraft missile systems for the Army. As noted in the statement, India approved a total of 55 proposals worth 6.73 trillion rupees ($71 billion) and signed contracts for another 503 proposals worth 2.28 trillion rupees during this fiscal year, which ends on March 31.
In February, India approved the purchase of additional French Rafale fighter jets for the Air Force and Boeing P-8I reconnaissance aircraft for the Navy, totaling $40 billion. According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India ranks fifth in the world in military spending and second in arms imports (after Ukraine). For decades, the country has been modernizing Soviet-era equipment, increasingly turning to new suppliers—France, Israel, the U.S., and Germany. In recent years, New Delhi has sought to produce weapons independently or in cooperation with foreign partners.
Last year, India and Pakistan were involved in a four-day military conflict, the largest in recent decades. The outbreak of hostilities was preceded by an attack on tourists in Kashmir. New Delhi accused Pakistan of orchestrating the attack, while Islamabad rejected these accusations.
