(MENAFN) India is reportedly considering the purchase of five additional S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia, according to a report by a news agency on Monday.

Senior Indian defense officials are expected to hold talks with their Russian counterparts this week, the paper said. New Delhi is exploring options to either jointly manufacture the systems with Moscow or acquire them outright, with hopes of finalizing an agreement during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s planned visit to India in early December.

The report added that India is also seeking to involve private defense firms in establishing maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities for the missile systems.

India has already taken delivery of three of the five S-400 air defense systems it purchased from Russia under a $5.43 billion deal signed in 2018. The remaining two are expected to arrive in 2026.

The S-400s reportedly played a significant role in shielding Indian air bases and military sites during a four-day confrontation with Pakistan in May.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the system’s effectiveness, saying in May that “platforms like the S-400 have given unprecedented strength to the country,” adding that “a strong security shield has become the identity of India.”

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