Russia and India will sign a deal worth more than $5 billion for the delivery of Russian S-400 Triumf air defense systems when President Vladimir Putin visits India later this week, Reuters reported citing Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.

Last week, India’s Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS), chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a $5.43 billion deal to procure five S-400 Triumf air defense systems from Russia. There was speculation at that time itself that the deal will be signed when Putin arrives in New Delhi for the 19th Indo-Russian summit on October 5.

The purchase request for 5 S-400 battalions, along with 6,000 missiles was cleared by the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) in December 2015 and an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with Russia for the procurement was signed on October 15, 2016.

According to reports, India will pay 15 percent of the deal amount at the time of the signing of the final contract while the rest of the amount will be paid after the delivery of the air defense system.

India is slated to receive the first S-400 missile squadron, with its command posts, launchers, all-terrain transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) vehicles, and target acquisition and engagement radars, around 24 months after the contract is inked. All five squadrons, with two firing units each, will arrive in the country in 54-60 months.

The Trump administration’s decision to impose sanction on countries procuring Russian weapon systems under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) had triggered speculations that the S-400 deal between India and Russia might be called off. Two weeks earlier, the U.S. imposed sanctions on the Chinese military for acquiring S-400 systems and Sukhoi-35 fighter jets from Russia under the CAATSA Act.

India and Russia are also expected to sign a deal for four Project 11356 Admiral Grigorovich-class/ Talwar-class stealth guided missile frigates for the Indian Navy during the Indo-Russian summit.

India is trying to secure a waiver from the U.S. for its proposed acquisitions from Russia which also includes 200 Kamov-226T light helicopters and the lease of a second nuclear-powered attack submarine.

S-400 Triumf

S-400 Triumf (NATO designation: SA-21 Growler) is a long-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense system developed by Russia’s Almaz Central Design Bureau as an upgrade of the S-300 family.

The system, previously known as the S-300PMU-3, has been in service with the Russian Armed Forces since 2007.

Triumf can engage targets at a distance of 400 kilometers and at an altitude of up to 30 kilometers. The system is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM), and surface targets.

The S-400 uses four missiles to fill its performance envelope: the very-long-range 40N6 (with 400 km range), the long-range 48N6 (250 km), the medium-range 9M96E2 (120 km) and the short-range 9M96E (40 km).

The system is currently operated by Russian, Belarusian and Chinese Armed Forces. Turkey is awaiting the delivery of the system which is scheduled for next year. Saudi Arabia has also agreed to buy the S-400 system.





