India supercharges air defence: Rs 10,000 crore S-400 missile purchase approved | India News

India’s Defense Acquisition Council, headed by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved a major Rs 10,000 crore deal to procure 288 Russian S-400 missiles, significantly boosting the country’s missile defense capabilities amid rising regional threats, according to HT.

Under the deal, India will acquire 120 short-range and 168 long-range missiles through the Fast Track Procedure (FTP), along with two additional S-400 systems, as per the HT report.

The S-400 systems have already proven their effectiveness during Operation Sindoor, where they successfully neutralized multiple Pakistani fighter jets and spy planes. The Indian Air Force reportedly brought down five to six fighter aircraft and one reconnaissance plane at distances exceeding 300 km inside Pakistan during the four-day conflict. The Armed Forces have hailed this capability as a game-changer.

The replenishment of S-400 missiles with ranges of 400 km, 200 km, 150 km, and 40 km was deemed necessary following extensive use in Operation Sindoor. The system played a critical role in targeting Pakistani fighter jets, early warning and intelligence aircraft, and armed drones in May 2025.

A notable highlight of the operation was India striking a wide-bodied aircraft in Punjab, Pakistan, from a distance of 314 km using a long-range S-400 missile. This prompted Pakistan to reposition most of its operational aircraft toward airbases in the western regions near Afghanistan and Iran. Further, Indian attacks on radar installations in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, and Pasrur kept the Pakistani Air Force largely inactive on May 9–10 due to the threat posed by S-400 systems deployed at Adampur and Bhuj sectors.

Earlier on Thursday, the DAC also approved the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets, valued at approximately Rs 3.25 lakh crore, one of the largest defense acquisitions in India’s history.

In addition to the S-400 acquisition, India is also procuring 114 Rafale combat aircraft, a substantial number of Scalp cruise missiles from France, P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft from the US, and other air defense systems to enhance its Sudarshan S-400 long-range air defense network.