India has been shocked by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Citing the war, Russia has extended the delivery date of the next batch of the S-400 missile system, an important weapon for India in terms of border security.

In the year 2018, there was an agreement between India and Russia to purchase five squadrons of S-400 air defense missiles. Of these, three squadrons have been delivered. It was expected that Russia would also deliver the remaining two squadrons of S-400 by 2024. But given the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia has refused to deliver it till 2024.

Delivery possible by August 2026

According to the report, amid the ongoing war with Ukraine, Russia has told India that the delivery of the remaining two squadrons of S-400 air defense missiles is possible by August 2026.

Despite the warning of the then US President Donald Trump, in October 2018, India had signed an agreement with Russia worth more than $ 5 billion, or about Rs 35 thousand crore, to buy five squadrons of S-400 air defense missiles. Trump had warned of imposing US sanctions on India under CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act).

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The CAATSA Act is a strict US law that seeks to impose sanctions on countries that purchase major defense hardware in large quantities from their enemy countries. The law was enacted in response to the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential elections. 

S-400 missile system is a very important weapon for India.

The Indian Air Force believes that the Russian weapon S-400 will prove to be a game changer for it. Recently the Indian Air Force has received MR-SAM and Akash missile systems. Apart from this, the Indian Air Force has also started working on its own Project Kusha.

The full name of the S-400 Missile System is the S-400 Air Defense Missile System. It turns an attacker coming in ambush from the sky into ashes in a moment. It is considered to be the most accurate air defense system. This is a very important weapon for India to maintain the balance of power in Asia. This missile is capable of hitting targets up to 400 kilometers away and is also very effective against fighter aircraft and cruise missiles.

Russia first developed the S-200 system in 1967. This was the first missile of the S series. S-300 was developed in the year 1978, S-400 in the year 1990. On 28 April 2007, Russia developed the S-400 missile system.