Notwithstanding fears of sanctions by the United States, India on Friday signed the $5.43-billion deal with Russia for five S-400 Triumf missile defence systems.
As per the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), the US can impose sanctions on any country that has "significant transactions" with Iran, North Korea or Russia.
In 2016, Russia had agreed to sell the 'game changer' S-400 ‘Triumf’ long-range air defence missile system with the capability to destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km. Only Russia and the US have such long-range modern air defence weapon systems.
Each system of S-400 includes a command and control centre, a 3D phased array acquisition radar, optional tracking radar and firing units with associated multi-mode engagement radar. The acquisition radar can not only detect and track up to 300 targets within a distance of 600km, but can also engage 36 targets at one point.
Each S-400 battalion has eight launchers, a control centre, radar and 16 missiles available as reloads. There are four kinds of missiles to choose from, based on the mission requirements.
READ MORE: Why is India eyeing Putin's S-400?
During last month's 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi, the United States, while expressing concerns over India's decision to go ahead with S-400 deal, simultaneously conveyed that the Trump administration would try to find ways to shield friends and allies from sanctions. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was given an assurance in this regard by her US counterpart James Mattis after she explained India's position to him.
However, two days ago, a top official of the US government asked all its allies to forego transactions with Russia.
Ignoring this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during the 19th India-Russia annual bilateral summit at the Hyderabad House, announced the conclusion of the deal.
"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 by the MEA said, without elaborating further.
"Russia has stood by India through time and has played a crucial role in India's growth story," PM Modi said in a joint address after the bilateral meeting. He added that "in this fast-changing world, our ties have grown at a fast pace. With time, the relations between our countries have gone from strength to strength."
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhance military technical ties. India and Russia have a long history of mutual trust and mutual benefit, a statement by the ministry of external affairs said, adding that both the countries expressed satisfaction over the significant progress made in the military technical cooperation projects which are under way. The statement also acknowledged the shift towards joint research and joint production of military technical equipment between the two countries.
"They highly evaluated the military industrial conference process as an important mechanism to promote 'Make in India' policy of the Government of India. The sides positively evaluated the meeting of the High-level Committee on Cooperation in High Technologies set up in November 2017, that identified concrete projects in areas of mutual interest for joint research and development," the statement said.
Both sides have signed an agreement on space cooperation under which an Indian monitoring station will be built near the Russian city of Novosibirsk in Siberia.
"Russia has committed full support to India's first manned space mission 'Gaganyaan',” said PM Modi
India-Russia cooperation is based on the solid foundations of the 1971 Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of India and the USSR, 1993 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of India and the Russian Federation, 2000 Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of India and the Russian Federation, and 2010 Joint Statement elevating the partnership to a special and privileged strategic partnership. "Cooperation between India and Russia spans across the whole gamut of sectors and rests on the fundamental pillars of political and strategic cooperation, military and security cooperation, cooperation in the spheres of economy, energy, industry, science and technology, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation," the statement added.
