India approves $25 billion defense procurement plan, including Russia's S-400 air defense system

India approved a $25 billion defense procurement proposal on Friday, aimed at acquiring transport aircraft, Russia’s S-400 air defense missile systems, and remotely piloted attack aircraft. The move is intended to advance India’s military modernization and replenish equipment following conflicts with Pakistan. Earlier this month, India also approved another major procurement plan worth $40 billion, for additional French-made Rafale fighter jets for the Air Force and Boeing P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft for the Navy.

The Indian Defense Ministry stated in a statement that the acquisitions approved on Friday also include armored piercing ammunition, artillery systems, and aerial surveillance systems for the Army, extending the service life of Air Force Su-30 fighters, and procuring hovercrafts for the Coast Guard.

In addition, on Friday, the Indian Defense Ministry signed a contract worth 4.45 billion Indian rupees (approximately $47 million, hereafter referred to as rupees) with Russia’s Rosoboronexport for the procurement of the "Tunguska" air defense missile system for the Army.

The statement said that by March 31 of the current fiscal year, India had approved 55 proposals totaling 6.73 trillion rupees (approximately $71 billion), and signed contracts for another 503 proposals amounting to 2.28 trillion rupees—both figures representing record highs for any fiscal year.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh introduced via the social media platform X: “Today I chaired the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting, during which several proposals received ‘acceptance of necessity,’ with an estimated total cost of around 2.38 trillion rupees. These DAC decisions will further strengthen India’s defense preparedness.”

Singh added, “The approved equipment for the Indian Army includes air defense tracked systems, armor-piercing tank ammunition, high-capacity radio relay systems, Dhanush artillery systems, and runway-independent aerial surveillance systems.”

He further noted, “It is reassuring that during the 2025–26 fiscal year, the Defense Acquisition Council has approved 55 proposals totaling 6.73 trillion rupees and granted them ‘acceptance of necessity.’ Moreover, 503 capital procurement contracts have already been signed this fiscal year, totaling 2.28 trillion rupees—marking a new record for any fiscal year.”

According to the latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India is the world’s fifth-largest defense spender and the second-largest arms importer globally after Ukraine.

For decades, India has been modernizing its primarily Soviet-era equipment and increasingly seeking new sources of weapons, including from France, Israel, the United States, and Germany. In recent years, India has aggressively pushed for indigenization across all categories of weaponry—from firearms and drones to fighter jets and submarines—through both indigenous development and co-production with foreign partners.

Last year, India and Pakistan engaged in four days of intense military conflict over attacks targeting Hindu tourists in the Kashmir region—the most serious confrontation between the two nations in decades. New Delhi accused Pakistani-based militants of carrying out the attacks, a claim denied by Islamabad.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1860833076947011/

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