Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russia’s Federal Service for Navy-Technical Cooperation, acknowledged that India already operates the S-400 and discussions are underway for brand new deliveries.
India and Russia are in talks for extra provides of S-400 surface-to-air missile techniques, TASS information company stated, citing a senior Russian defence export official. Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russia’s Federal Service for Navy-Technical Cooperation, acknowledged that India already operates the S-400 and discussions are underway for brand new deliveries.
It needs to be famous that India has already signed a $5.5 billion settlement with Russia in 2018 for 5 S-400 Triumf techniques, meant to counter China’s rising navy energy. Nevertheless, this deal confronted repeated delays, with the ultimate two items now scheduled for 2026 and 2027.
Within the meantime, Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov acknowledged on Wednesday that India didn’t bow to the calls for by the USA to cease buying sources from Russia and that Moscow “appreciated” that.
Russia stays India’s prime arms provider
Amid rising purchases from France and Israel, Russia stays India’s prime arms provider. Between 2020 and 2024, 36 per cent of India’s weapons imports have been from Russia, in response to the Stockholm Worldwide Peace Analysis Institute.
Lengthy strategic companions, India and Russia have collaborated on quite a few defence tasks previously and it consists of licensed manufacturing of T-90 tanks and Su-30 MKI fighter jets, the availability of MiG-29 and Kamov helicopters, the plane provider INS Vikramaditya (previously Admiral Gorshkov), manufacturing of AK-203 rifles in India, and the BrahMos missile programme.
Throughout Operation Sindoor, the Indian Military retaliated towards Pakistan and Russia’s S-400 air defence system was credited for intercepting and destroying a number of incoming missiles.
India and Russia vow to strengthen strategic ties
Earlier this week, India and Russia vowed to strengthen their strategic ties towards the backdrop of New Delhi’s frictions with the US, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi telling Russian President Vladimir Putin that the 2 international locations stood “shoulder-to-shoulder” even in most troublesome occasions.
PM Modi and President Putin met on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), days after the US doubled tariffs on Indian items to a whopping 50 per cent, together with a 25 per cent extra duties for India’s buy of Russian crude oil.
The talks between the 2 leaders centered on bilateral cooperation within the financial, monetary, and vitality sectors, in response to an Indian readout.
PM Modi invitations Putin to go to India in December
In his televised opening remarks on the assembly, PM Modi instructed the Russian president that 140 crore Indians are eagerly ready to welcome him in India in December.
“This can be a reflection of the depth and scope of our Particular and Privileged Strategic Partnership. India and Russia have all the time stood shoulder-to-shoulder even in probably the most troublesome conditions,” he stated.
The prime minister stated shut cooperation between the 2 international locations is necessary not just for the folks of each international locations, but additionally for international peace, stability, and prosperity. Earlier than the official talks, the 2 leaders held an off-the-cuff dialog as they travelled to the venue of their bilateral assembly in the identical automotive after concluding engagements on the SCO summit.
The Russian president waited for about 10 minutes for PM Modi to affix him earlier than boarding the automotive. PM Modi and Putin spent one other 45 minutes within the automotive even after reaching the venue, folks aware of the matter stated.
In his remarks, PM Modi additionally stated India welcomes all of the current efforts in the direction of establishing peace in Ukraine, including it’s humanity’s name to discover a method to finish hostilities as quickly as potential.
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