India to Receive Fourth S-400 Squadron in Mid-May

India is preparing to receive the fourth squadron of Russia's advanced S-400 Triumf air defense system in mid-May, with key components already shipped from Russia last week, defense sources said.

The delivery follows a 2018 agreement worth approximately $5.43 billion for five squadrons. Three squadrons have been inducted and deployed at strategic locations: one guarding the Siliguri Corridor, known as the Chicken's Neck, linking India's northeast to the mainland; another in the Pathankot region to protect Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab; and the third along the western border in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The fourth squadron is slated for deployment in Rajasthan to bolster defenses along the border with Pakistan, while the fifth is expected by November.

The timing aligns closely with the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, a May 7-10, 2025, military conflict with Pakistan during which the S-400 systems proved effective. Sources indicated the systems intercepted aerial threats, including missiles, with India firing about 11 long-range missiles that downed enemy fighter jets and early warning aircraft. "The S-400 played a crucial role in protecting military and civilian assets," one...