India and Russia discuss supply of S-400s
Moscow and New Delhi have discussed the supply of the Russian-made S-400 mobile surface-to-air missile systems, the Indian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
The discussions took place during a meeting between Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov on Thursday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defense Ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China.
'It was one of the most important recent meetings between the leaders of the two nations, being held in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor and the consequent necessity of augmenting defense production, especially in critical items such as air defense, air-to-air missiles, modern capabilities, and upgrades of air platforms,' the Indian Defense Ministry said. 'Supply of S-400 systems, Su-30 MKI upgrades, and procurement of critical military hardware in expeditious timeframes were some of the key takeaways of the meeting.'
'Operation Sindoor' is the codename given to India's May 7 strikes on alleged terrorist facilities in Pakistan-controlled territory. India has said that the operation was in response to a terrorist attack in India's Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory in April that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists. The S-400s played an important role in defending Indian air bases and other military installations against retaliatory Pakistani strikes, earning the praise of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
'Platforms like the S-400 have given unprecedented strength to the country,' Modi said in an address to the soldiers in May, against the backdrop of an S-400 system. 'A strong security shield has become the identity of India.'
India presently has taken delivery of three of five S-400 air defense systems it purchased from Russia for $5.43 billion in 2018. The remaining two are slated for delivery in 2026. India's military currently relies heavily on Russian-origin equipment, with around 60% of its arsenal being of Russian make.
New Delhi has a fleet of 259 Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft, with 84 planes due to be upgraded with Russian assistance, according to the Hindu. During Thursday's meeting of defense ministers, Belousov stressed the importance of the Russia-India partnership, noting that Moscow's long-term friendship with New Delhi extended into the military-technical sector.
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