Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets Defence Minister of Russia, Andrey Belousov on the sidelines of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Defence Ministers’ Meeting, in Qingdao.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Defence Ministers of India and Russia are set to meet on December 4 in New Delhi on the sidelines of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to India.
A senior official confirmed that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold talks with his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov to review ongoing defence cooperation and explore new avenues of partnership.
According to the official, the agenda includes discussions on the timely delivery of remaining S-400 air defence systems. India is also likely to examine the possibility of acquiring additional S-400 units as well as Russia’s next-generation S-500 system—capable of intercepting ballistic missiles at ranges up to 600 km and airborne targets up to 400 km.
The meeting is also expected to take up cooperation in ship building and jointly developed weapons systems, an area both sides are looking to strengthen further.
In June this year, Mr. Singh and Mr. Belousov met in Qingdao, China, where Moscow reaffirmed its commitment to timely S-400 deliveries. India had placed an initial order for five S-400 units, of which three have been delivered. The remaining two are scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027.
The S-400 system has proved its strategic significance in recent Indian operations, including Operation Sindoor, and has been officially designated ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ in Indian service—after the mythological weapon of Lord Vishnu.
The Ministry of Defence has also identified an Indian firm to set up a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the S-400 system in the country.
Addressing a public gathering in Karnataka on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi elaborated on the vision of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, stating that it aims to build an impenetrable protective wall around key national, industrial and public sector assets. “If the enemy dares to show audacity, India’s Sudarshan Chakra will destroy them,” the Prime Minister said.
Earlier, during his Independence Day address, Mr. Modi had announced the ambitious ‘Sudarshan Chakra Mission’, a decade-long initiative to bolster India’s national security architecture.
Published – November 28, 2025 06:52 pm IST
