India, Russia Defence Ministers to Co-Chair 22nd Commission Meet in Delhi

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov will co-chair the 22nd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation ministerial meeting in New Delhi on Thursday (December 4, 2025). Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India for the first time in 4 years after the Ukraine war for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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The two leaders will review the entire range of multi-faceted relations between the two countries in the field of defence, including Military and Military Technical Cooperation. They will also exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest, said a senior official.

According to the sources in the Ministry of Defence, the agenda includes discussions on the timely delivery of the 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.

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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. Joint development of advanced versions of BrahMos variants will also be discussed. Mr. Belousov will also get a glimpse of Indian defence manufacturing capabilities in the meeting.

Sources confirmed the meeting will be followed by a private dinner which will be attended by top defence officials from both the sides.

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 already been delivered. The remaining two are scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027.

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The S-400 system has proved its strategic significance in Operation Sindoor, and it is officially designated ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ in Indian service—after the mythological weapon of Lord Vishnu.

During the visit, the Russian Defence Minister will also lay a wreath at the National War Memorial, New Delhi, and pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.