Modi, Putin seal $ 5bn S- 400 deal
■ Missile systems’ delivery likely in 24 months; 8 other pacts inked
India is all set to acquire the S- 400 Triumf, arguably the world’s most lethal surface- to- air missile system, from Russia, overriding a threat of sanctions from the US. The pact for the $ 5- billion acquisition signed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday along with eight other agreements ranging from nuclear power to space exploration.
“The decisions taken today will further enhance our cooperation and contribute to the restoration of peace and stability in this challenging world,” Mr Modi said at a joint press event with Mr Putin.
The S- 400 deal was the only military pact inked on Friday and yet New Delhi played it down in order to avoid offending the US.
India has already requested the US for a waiver to escape American sanctions on Russian military exports. The US said that its sanctions do not want to hurt military capabilities of its “allies or partners”.
Prime Minister Modi and Mr Putin, who held their annual summit, did not mention the S- 400 deal in their respective press statements. Government officials also did not publicly announce the inking of the deal. However, official sources confirmed that it was signed.
Air Force chief B. S. Dhanoa told reporters, “As and when the government approves it, delivery ( of the missiles) will be in 24 months.”
The S- 400 is one of the world’s most advanced long- range air defence systems. It can engage up to 36 targets at a time and simultaneously launch 72 missiles. China was the first nation to buy the S400 missile system in 2014. Russia has already started deliveries of an undisclosed number of the S- 400 missile system to Beijing.
According to reports, India will establish five squadrons of the S- 400 missile system
A top Indian official said, “Now that the contract is signed I presume the time- line ( for the payment mechanism) has to be fairly soon.”
The official also asserted that the negotiations for S400 precede US sanctions against Russia by a long period. “It is fulfils a certain defence requirement
New Delhi, Oct. 5: Interaction between young people of India and Russia, especially schoolchildren, would perhaps be the “most important addition” to the “unprecedented level” of bilateral ties and serve as a basis for a long- term cooperation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Putin interacted with some young talents drawn from India’s Atal Innovation Mission ( AIM) and Russia’s SIRIUS educational centre.
Mr Modi, in his remarks, urged the youth of both the countries to work on innovation to improve the way of living of the poor and the needy.
An MoU was also signed between AIM and SIRIUS to further their cooperation.
“With cooperation of your counterparts, I am sure the interaction between young people, especially between schoolchildren, would be a great addition, and perhaps the most important addition, to the unprecedented level of India and Russia relations that we see these days,” Mr Putin said.
“This is the basis for a long- term cooperation,” he said.
Mr Modi also expressed his delight in meeting students of both the countries, and pitched for having sustained exchange programmes.
“This ( Russian students’ visit to India) should be taken forward. Indian students should visit Russian institutions, and more and more such exchanges should take place. India and Russian students together must think what can they do to make lives simpler for people, especially the poorest, to improve their way of living,” he said.
The Prime Minister also asserted that every generation must have a “scientific temper” whether a person turns into a scientist or not.
“Without innovation, ( the development) of the world will come to a standstill,” he said.
Mr Putin earlier had a one- on- one meeting with the Prime Minister on Friday after his arrival here on Thursday evening. Mr Modi had hosted a private dinner for the visiting dignitary
During the interaction, the two leaders also took a few questions from both Russian and Indian students, on subjects such as value of teachers, scientists and areas of research.