India Signs ₹858 Crore Contracts for Tunguska Air Defense Missiles and P8I Aircraft Maintenance

India's Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth ₹858 crore (approximately $47M USD) on April 13, 2026 to procure Tunguska Air Defence Missile System upgrades from Russia's Rosoboronexport and depot-level inspection of P8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft. The Tunguska contracts, valued at ₹445 crore, will procure advanced 9M311-M1 missiles for the Indian Army's short-range air defense against drones, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft. The procurement is part of India's broader post-Sindoor modernization push responding to drone, loitering munition, and cruise missile threats revealed during the May 2025 conflict. The Tunguska upgrade complements India's existing S-400 Triumf and Akash systems in a multi-layered air defense architecture, directly addressing vulnerabilities exposed during Operation Sindoor.