Peter Suciu
India appears intent on buying more Russian-made S-400s after the systems performed well in its recent war with Pakistan.
If there was hope in Washington or among the NATO alliance that India would move away from Russia in any meaningful way, it was dashed this week. India, which has long been the largest purchaser of Russian-made military hardware, appears close to signing a deal for the S-400 Triumf air defense system. Such an acquisition would all but ensure that New Delhi could never acquire the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter, which would firmly integrate the American and Indian militaries for decades to come.
India had previously adopted the S-400, but there had been speculation that it would move away from Russian-made hardware after President Donald Trump floated the idea that the Indian Air Force (IAF) could be offered the F-35 during an Oval Office meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February.
However, India ultimately rejected the F-35 after Trump announced the United States would impose a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, which reportedly “shocked and disappointed” Indian officials. Moscow followed up on the rejection by offering a co-production deal that could see India manufacture the Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) domestically—a priority for New Delhi, which has tried to emphasize indigenous production over foreign purchases.
Stung by Pakistan, India Wants More S-400 Systems
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