India’s plan to strengthen its air defence network with five additional squadrons of the Russian-made S-400 Triumf system has moved a step forward, with Moscow submitting a Bill of Quantities (BOQ) proposal to New Delhi. The document outlines the estimated costs of construction, equipment and materials, paving the way for detailed price negotiations between the two sides.
According to authoritative sources, the final decision on acquiring the additional S-400 systems will be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) once the financial negotiations with Russia are concluded. The proposal will also require clearance from the Finance Ministry before it is placed before the CCS for approval.
The development comes as India prepares to receive the fifth and final S-400 system ordered under the original contract signed with Russia in 2018. The deal, valued at approximately $5.43 billion, covers five S-400 squadrons, with the final system expected to arrive in India in November this year.
The additional systems are expected to significantly enhance India’s multi-layered air defence capabilities, particularly along its eastern and northern borders. The fifth system from the existing contract is also planned for deployment in the eastern sector, strengthening India's preparedness along the frontier with China.
The S-400 is designed to detect and engage a wide range of aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. Its long-range engagement capability makes it a critical component of India's strategic air defence architecture.
The system also assumed greater significance following Operation Sindoor in May 2025, when India employed its integrated air defence network during military operations against Pakistan. Indian officials and defence sources have subsequently highlighted the role played by systems such as the S-400 and Akash in countering aerial threats.
Meanwhile, reports suggesting that India has already decided to acquire two squadrons of Russia's fifth-generation Su-57 fighter aircraft are understood to be premature.
India has not taken a final decision to purchase the Su-57. However, the Indian Air Force has reportedly expressed interest in Moscow's proposal amid growing concerns over China's deployment of its J-20 fifth-generation fighter aircraft at airbases in Tibet.
The deployment of Chinese fifth-generation fighters in locations including Hotan, Lhasa and Nyingchi has added another dimension to India's assessment of its air combat requirements along the northern frontier.
The Su-57 proposal could therefore remain part of India's broader evaluation of future combat aviation capabilities, but any acquisition would require a separate decision-making process.
For the S-400 programme, the immediate focus remains on completing negotiations over the financial terms. Russia's BOQ submission is an important step because it provides the basis for working out the cost of infrastructure, construction and associated materials.
Once the price is finalised and the Finance Ministry gives its clearance, the proposal is expected to move to the CCS for the final political and security approval.
If cleared, the acquisition of five additional S-400 squadrons would represent a substantial expansion of India's long-range air defence shield and further strengthen its ability to respond to emerging aerial threats on both the western and eastern fronts.
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