India To Push For Faster Delivery Of S-400 Missile Defence System From Russia During Intergovernmental Talks

After working out the payments mechanism for the S-400 Triumf with Russia and paying the first instalment of around Rs 6,000 crore, India now wants faster delivery of the Russian missile defence system that can detect, track and destroy hostile strategic bombers, jets, spy planes, missiles and drones at a range of 380 km, reports Times of India.

According to the report, the faster delivery of the five S-400 missile defence system, originally slated to be delivered from October 2020 to April 2023, will be discussed in the 19th India-Russia intergovernmental commission on military and technical cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) to be held in Moscow on Wednesday (6 November), sources were cited in the report as saying.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a Russia visit, is likely to raise the issue of faster delivery of S-400. He is also expected to visit the production facilities of S-400 at St Petersburg on Thursday (7 November).

Earlier in October 2018, India and Russia signed a $5.43 billion deal for five S-400 missile defence system. Recently, both the countries have also worked out a payment mechanism to get over US sanctions against acquisition of Russian weapons.

"The first instalment of 15 per cent for the S-400 deal got delayed by several months. But it has now been paid, with the remaining instalments being linked to deliveries. Russia has assured India it will stick to the original delivery schedule. India, however, is trying to quicken it further," a source was quoted in the report as saying.

As per the report, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has described the acquisition of the S-400 as well as the 36 Rafale fighter from France as “game-changing” for combat capabilities and warfare in the region.