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India to receive fourth S-400 unit from Russia in early May; fifth unit due by November
India is set to receive the fourth S-400 missile unit from Russia in early May 2026, with the fifth unit due by November under an updated delivery timeline. The report traces the 2018 deal for five units, notes that three had been delivered, and mentions a March 2026 clearance of an additional batch bringing the total to 10, while the fourth unit has already been shipped.
Why It Matters
The deployment of S-400 systems enhances India's air defence capability. The article frames the new purchases as a follow-on order with no expected hindrance from US sanctions.
Timeline
6 Events
April 28, 2026: US sanctions unlikely to hinder new procurement; follow-on order
April 28, 2026
India is not expecting any hindrance from US sanctions as the new procurement will be a 'follow-on' order of the previous one.
April 28, 2026: Fifth unit to be delivered by November under updated timeline
April 28, 2026
The fifth unit will be delivered by November under an updated timeline for supplying the weapon system.
April 28, 2026: Fourth unit shipped; expected to reach India in coming days
April 28, 2026
The fourth S-400 unit has already been shipped and is expected to reach India in the next few days.
March 2026: Fresh batch cleared to bring total to 10
March 2026
Last month, India cleared the procurement of a fresh batch of five S-400 missile systems from Russia, bringing the total to 10.
October 2018: Three S-400 units delivered
October 2018
Three of the five S-400 units under the 2018 deal had been delivered.
October 2018: India signs USD 5 billion S-400 deal for five units
October 2018
India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to procure five S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems; three of the five units had already been delivered.