NEW DELHI, Oct 3: Additional batches of the Russian-made S-400 missile defence system may be on the horizon for India during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi in December.
According to official sources, India is considering procuring additional batches of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia, as the weapons proved very effective during Operation Sindoor. The proposed procurement may figure in talks between New Delhi and Moscow during Mr Putin’s visit.
In addition to the S-400, India may be looking for an upgrade and buy the newer version, the S-500 missile defence system, the sources said. The first deal between India and Russia to buy the S-400 system was signed in 2018. The deal, worth $5 billion at the time, was for five units of the air defence system. Three of the five squadrons have been delivered.
During his first term, he US President Donald Trump had warned India that procuring defence materials from Russia may invite US sanctions under the provisions of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). However, the deal still went through.
The Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, the chief of the Indian Air Force, did not give a direct reply when asked at a press conference on Friday if India was considering buying additional batches of the weapon system. “Obviously, that has done good. So, there’s a requirement to have more such (systems); there is no limit to numbers that you can buy. Again, I’m keeping quiet on what the plan (is) whether we want to buy more, how much etc,” he told the media.
The IAF chief said a call would be taken regarding the matter as India was also in the process of developing its own air defence system. “It has proved to be a good weapon system. We have our own system also being developed. So we will take a call on that,” he said.
(Manas Dasgupta)