Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s December 6 visit to India for the annual summit meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russia has started deliveries of S-400 Triumph missile systems to India. On this subject informed Nikkei Asia Edition.
As noted, this will be one of Vladimir Putin’s first visits abroad after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of agreements are expected to be signed in areas such as defence, trade, science and technology.
A $5.43 billion deal to purchase five anti-aircraft missile systems for the Indian Air Force was struck between India and Russia in 2018. The shipments could trigger US sanctions against the republic under the Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 (CAATSA), which imposes economic sanctions on countries that purchase Russian military equipment.
“Deliveries of S-400 air defense systems to India have started and are continuing on schedule,” Sputnik news agency reported on Nov. 14, citing Dmitry Shugaev, director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation.
Delivery of the first S-400 missile system, which can hit air targets including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, ballistic and cruise missiles, within a radius of 400 kilometres, is expected to be completed by end of the year. The missile system consists of a firing section, a control system and the missile itself.
India and Russia are expected to start their first dialogue in the new 2+2 format at the level of foreign and defense ministers.
India, which has been buying military hardware from Russia for seven decades, is hoping to secure a waiver from US sanctions over the S-400 missile deal.
In late October, US senators and India panel co-chairs Mark Warner and John Cornyn sent a letter to US President Joe Biden asking them not to impose CAATSA sanctions on India.
“We urge you to grant India a CAATSA exemption in connection with the planned purchase of S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile systems,” the senators wrote, adding that the imposition of sanctions could ” adversely affect the strategic partnership with India”.
“Given that India is a major US defense partner, it is possible that Washington will not impose CAATSA sanctions on India, since India is a very important country in the Indo-Pacific region,” said NS Bipindra, an analyst for defense and strategic issues. from New Delhi.
As the newspaper notes, India and Russia have recently been actively engaged in the Afghanistan issue, and Moscow sees New Delhi as a key player in the region. After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, Modi and Putin created a channel for consultations between the Russian Federation and India on Afghanistan.
