Sunday 1 July 2018

India moves towards acquiring Russian S-400 missile systems despite US opposition

AFP


NEW DELHI: India is now swiftly moving towards acquiring five advanced S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems from Russia despite the looming threat of US sanctions, with the defence ministry clearing the decks for the proposed Rs 39,000 crore deal. 

Top sources say the defence acquisitions council (DAC), chaired by minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Thursday, approved the “minor deviations” in the mega S-400 deal that had emerged during the recently-concluded commercial negotiations with Russia. 

“The S-400 procurement case will now go to the finance ministry for clearance and the PM-led Cabinet Committee on Security for the final nod. The country’s top political leadership will have to take a call on when the actual contract can be inked,” said a source. 

The DAC was held just a day after the US on Wednesday night once again cancelled the inaugural “two-plus-two” dialogue between foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and defence minister Sitharaman with their American counterparts— Mike Pompeo and Jim Mattis— which was slated for July 6 in Washington. 

TOI was the first to report in October 2015 that India had kicked off plans to acquire the S-400 missile systems + , which can detect, track and destroy hostile strategic bombers, stealth fighters, spy planes, missiles and drones at a range of up to 400 km and altitude of 30 km, in what was being touted as a game-changing military acquisition.......Continue reading: HERE

Related articles:
US may offer India THAAD air defence system to block S-400 deal
US to India: Buy American, Not Russian
India to US: Sanctions won’t stop Russian air-defense system purchase
India prefers Russian S-400 systems to American Patriot lemons

No comments:

Post a Comment