India and Russia S-400 Missile: India and Russia are again talking about the S-400 air defence systems and the deal might get even bigger. A Russian defence export head, Dmitry Shugayev, told TASS news agency that India already has the S-400 but there is chance to expand the cooperation. He said talks are happening now about new deliveries. The report came out just one day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China.
Back in 2018 India signed a deal worth 5.43 billion dollars with Russia for five units of the S-400 Triumf missile system. It is one of the world’s best defence systems and can stop missiles, fighter jets and drones from very far away. Three squadrons already came to India and they are now part of India’s air defence.
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India gave it a new name, calling it “Sudarshan Chakra.” In recent times when tension rose between India and Pakistan, this system showed its power, repoted Times now. It stopped drones from Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, which gave India confidence in the system.
Delivery Timeline and Future Plans
The full contract faced some delays, but Russia promised to give the last two squadrons in the coming years. Roman Babushkin, who is the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Russian Embassy in India, said that the remaining two units will reach India by 2025 or 2026. He explained to PTI that the contract is going on track and he feels sure that the final delivery will be done in that time.
He also praised the S-400 saying, “We heard that S-400 performed very efficiently during the situation between India and Pakistan. We have a long history of collaboration…As far as my knowledge, the contract for the remaining S-400 units will be according to the schedule… I think it will be done in 2025, 2026.” He also added that Russia is ready to continue talks with India to grow the defence partnership.
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Modi and Putin at SCO Summit
The meeting of Modi and Putin at the SCO summit drew a lot of attention. Videos went viral online showing them holding hands, walking together and later joining Chinese President Xi Jinping for a chat. Before their official talks, Putin waited nearly 10 minutes for Modi and then they both travelled in Putin’s Aurus limousine. The ride to the summit venue was only about 15 minutes but the two leaders decided to sit inside the car for almost an hour and continued their private conversation. Later they joined their teams for the main talks.
During the meeting, Putin called Modi his “dear friend,” and Modi replied that India and Russia always stand together even in hard times.
