NEW DELHI, India (BulgarianMilitary.com) – India will soon acquire five S-400 Triumf air defence systems from Russia under a $5.43 billion program for the purposes of which a formal government-to-government agreement is expected to be announced during the 19th India-Russia summit on 5th October 2018, learned BulgarianMilitary.com

The program has been approved by the Indian government’s highest defence approval body, the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a week before the visit of the Russian President Vladimir Putin to the country. The visit is scheduled for 5th October 2018.

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A former financial adviser on defence acquisition for the MoD Amit Cowshish commented, “Apparently, the Indian defence establishment is convinced that S-400 Triumf system is ideally suited to fill a critical gap in our existing capabilities. That being the case, there is no reason for India to buckle under the U.S. pressure to roll back procurement of hardware from Russia,” and added that India needs Russia’s continued support for maintaining and operating in-service equipment, a big part of which is of Russian-origin and this is a reason due to which the country cannot afford to distance itself from Russia.

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The sale of five S-400 units was agreed in October 2016 in Goa through the signing of an intergovernmental contract between India and Russia during the 17th India-Russia summit in the presence of Putin and Modi.

The long-range surface-to-air missile defence system S-400, which is in the inventory of the Russian military since 2007, is known as the most advanced Russian missile defence system. It is designed to intercept and destroy airborne targets at a distance of up to 400 km, as well as to eliminate threats from multiple sources like stealth aircraft and ballistic missiles. The S-400 system tracking and search radar systems, eight launchers, 112 guided missiles, and command and support vehicles.

The first missile system is scheduled for delivery in 2020.

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BulgarianMilitary.com

Source: Defense News