The Indian government has allocated $25 billion for a large-scale rearmament of its army
The Indian government approved a plan to purchase weapons and military equipment totaling $25 billion. A significant part of this defense budget will be directed to the acquisition of Russian long-range anti-aircraft missile systems.
In particular, the country’s Ministry of Defense confirmed its intention to acquire five more S-400 systems, the cost of which is estimated at $6.1 billion.
The decision to expand the air defense fleet is due to the need to protect vital state facilities from long-term air threats from potential adversaries. Currently, the Indian armed forces already have three similar complexes in service. They were tested in real combat conditions during the four-day armed conflict with Pakistan in May last year, demonstrating their effectiveness.
“The S-400 system will counter long-term enemy air threats aimed at vital facilities,” the Indian Ministry of Defense said.
According to the delivery schedule, two more divisions of anti-aircraft systems are expected in the country in the coming months. This will significantly strengthen the defense capabilities on the borders and provide reliable cover for industrial and political centers. Despite the general trend towards diversification of import sources, Russia continues to hold a leading position as New Delhi’s main partner in the military-technical sphere.
“Despite the decline in volumes, Russia remains the largest supplier of military equipment to India, providing more than a third of arms purchases”, analysts from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) emphasized in a report for 2025.
Such long-term cooperation is based on multi-year contracts and the interoperability of systems already operated by the Indian military. India’s procurement strategy for 2026 demonstrates the priority of strengthening air defense and the aviation component to maintain the regional balance of power in South Asia. It is expected that the new systems will be integrated into a single military command network immediately after the completion of the supply and training of personnel.
