Russia and India are currently in discussions for the delivery of additional S-400 “Triumf” air defense systems, even as a major data leak has exposed sensitive details of their existing contract and reports have surfaced of the system malfunctioning in the field.
The original $5.5 billion deal, signed in 2018 for five S-400 systems, has been described as “problematic” because of repeated delivery delays, which Russia has attributed to its own military needs and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The final two units from that initial order are not expected until 2026 or 2027.
The deal’s challenges have been compounded by a large-scale data breach. On July 15, 2024, the cyber-activist group Cyber Resistance, working with the intelligence community InformNapalm, began publishing information from hacked emails of Russian officers in a series dubbed “BaumankaLeaks.” The leak contains comprehensive details of the Russia-India S-400 contract, including inventories of components, spare parts, and the exact number of munitions to be supplied to India.
According to InformNapalm, the decision to release the full, unredacted contract details was made after a diplomatic incident in which the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Ukrainian ambassador. The summons followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s condemnation of a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which occurred as a Russian missile struck a children’s hospital in Kyiv.
One of the leaked emails reportedly came from Vladimir Chervakov, the head of the Air Defense Department at Bauman Moscow State Technical University, and contained a full breakdown of the S-400 divisions. The incident highlights potential vulnerabilities in Russia’s ability to protect sensitive defense information, creating a security risk for its military partners.
Adding to these concerns, IDRW has reported an operational issue with the system. According to the report, retired Indian Army Sergeant Bhale Singh revealed that his S-400 launcher “malfunctioned” under fire on May 10. Singh, who was the Launch In-Charge, stated that his team “fixed the system in 15 minutes,” fired two missiles at an incoming target, and then relocated the launcher to avoid a counterstrike.
Despite the delays, security breaches, and reported performance issues, India continues to engage with Russia on the S-400.
The Indian government has not publicly acknowledged the technical problems, a decision attributed to the political commitment to the purchase and a lack of immediate alternatives. While the United States offers competing systems, delivery timelines are estimated to be in the decades due to high demand. Systems from China are not considered an option, as Beijing is viewed as a potential adversary. This strategic situation leaves India dependent on the Russian platform for its long-range air defense needs.