Russia and India in talks for additional S-400 missiles – Moscow
Russia and India are in talks concerning the sale of an additional batch of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, authorities said in Moscow.
India has expressed interest in these advanced missile systems, the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) told Interfax.
“Russia is ready for this. Negotiations are underway,” the FSMTC stated on the sidelines of the International Security Forum, which began in Moscow on Tuesday.
The FSMTC noted that the S-400 had “proven itself” during India-Pakistan military conflict in May last year.
Dmitry Shugaev, head of the FSMTC, said last week that the current contract for supplying India with S-400 systems is being fulfilled on schedule.
He had said earlier that Russia is not ruling out new deliveries of S-400 systems to India.
There had been reports earlier that India might be in the market for the even more advanced S-500 systems, which are capable of taking out targets in low-earth orbit.
In March, India’s Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) approved proposals to buy defense equipment worth $25 billion, including S-400 air defense missile systems, various types of aircraft, and artillery systems, as part of a rapid military modernization drive.
A statement from India’s Defense Ministry said those approvals cover five S-400 units in addition to the five it ordered in 2017. New Delhi went ahead with the earlier purchase despite heavy pressure from the United States.
Three of the missile systems contracted in 2017 have already been delivered to India. A fourth is expected to reach India before the end of this month, and the last before the end of this year.
The procurement of transport aircraft to replace the country’s Soviet-era An-32 and Il-76 planes, as well as various artillery systems, was also approved by the DAC.
New Delhi is the world’s fifth largest military spender and the second largest arms importer after Ukraine, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Over 60% of Indian weaponry is of Soviet or Russian origin. New Delhi has recently been positioning itself as a defense manufacturer under its Make in India program.
