India, Russia ink $5 billion S-400 missile air defence deal amid US objections

S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system. China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system. Moscow has already started delivery of an undisclosed number of the S-400 missile systems to Beijing, reported PTI.

Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile launching system is displayed at the exposition field in Kubinka Patriot Park outside Moscow on August 22, 2017 during the first day of the International Military-Technical Forum Army-2017. / AFP PHOTO / Alexander NEMENOV

New Delhi: India and Russia signed the USD 5 billion S-400 air defence system deal during the annual bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. This is the 19th India-Russia annual bilateral summit. "The sides welcomed the conclusion of the contract for the supply of the S-400 Long Range Surface to Air Missile System to India," a joint statement issued following the meeting said. The deal comes in the face of strident American objections. Reports say the S-400 missile defence system deal could result in US sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) instituted by the US Congress on arms purchases from Russia. According to a PTI report, the US has urged its allies to forgo transactions with Russia, warning that the S-400 missile defence system that India wanted to buy would be a "focus area" for it to implement punitive sanctions against a nation undertaking "significant" business deals with the Russians. American lawmakers, however, have allowed the possibility of a presidential waiver.

President of Russia #VladimirPutin signs the Visitors' Book at Hyderabad House in the presence of PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/zYAkDgoPju

— PIB India (@PIB_India) October 5, 2018

India aims at upgrading the long-range missile systems to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly along the nearly 4,000-km-long India-China border. The upgraded version of S-300 missile is capable of destroying destroying strategic bombers, missiles, drones and jets at a range of nearly 400 kms. S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system. China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system. Moscow has already started delivery of an undisclosed number of the S-400 missile systems to Beijing, reported PTI.