S-400 and Su-57 High on Agenda Ahead of Putin’s India Visit
With the S-400 air-defence beast mode and the Su-57 stealth jet about to take centre stage, Moscow gears up for President Vladimir Putin's India touchdown on 4–5 December 2025. The Kremlin has already dropped hints: this summit is going to be heavy on defence, tech transfer, and long-game strategic moves.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov flat-out stated that India’s plan to pick up more S-400 regiments and the possibility of bringing in Russia’s fifth-gen Su-57 stealth fighter will be major points of discussion. He reminded everyone that Russian hardware already makes up 36% of India’s military stash, and that number is only headed north if collaborations get deeper. Peskov hyped the Su-57 as “the world’s finest aircraft,” and said Moscow is fully ready to talk about India joining the party.
These signals begin to align with the offerings Russia flashed at the Dubai Air Show 2025, from licensed production of advanced weapons to integrating Indian tech and teaming up on next-generation platforms. And yes, the OG collaboration—BrahMos—was cited as the blueprint for what the future might look like: not just buying, but co-creating.
Beyond jets and missiles, the conversation is expected to stretch into nuclear energy with Russia pitching small modular reactors, plus joint investments to scale projects like Kudankulam—a push toward deeper, long-term energy ties.
Peskov also commented on the recent Delhi blasts, referring to Russia’s own scars from terrorism and calling for united action against the threats of extremists.
With both sides all set to review progress across defence, strategic and energy fronts as Putin arrives on an invitation extended by PM Narendra Modi for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, there are reports that suggest India is weighing the acquisition of five more S-400 regiments, particularly after their stellar performance in Operation Sindoor. There could even be early-stage whispers about submarines, helicopters, and a first glance at S-500 air defence systems.
Considering that geopolitics keeps shifting like quicksand, this summit is poised to tighten the fabric of the India–Russia “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”- older than trends, stronger than headlines, and still very much alive.
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