Despite US threat, India, Russia to sign S-400 air defence system deal during Putin's India visit

Undeterred by US threat of sanctions, India and Russia will sign a deal for over USD 5 billion S-400 surface-to-air missile system during Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi.

"The key feature of this visit will be the signing of the agreement to deliver S-400 air defence systems," news agency AFP quoted Vladimir Putin's top foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov as saying.

"The value of the contract will be more than USD 5 billion," Ushakov said.

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The deal for S-400 long-range surface-to-air missiles was finalised after several rounds of negotiations between India and Russia.

The confirmation came a month after the US warned India against signing the defence deal with Russia, saying that Washington would consider it as a "significant transaction" that would attract tough American sanctions.

In August, senior Pentagon official had said that the US will consider imposing tough sanctions against India if it goes ahead with the purchase.

According to reports, the deal was given clearance by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting on September 27.

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The S-400 Triumf is a Russian anti-air system which can shoot down ballistic missiles at a range of 60km (37 miles). An S-400 unit is composed of several launchers, command and logistics vehicles. It can track as many as 300 airborne targets at a range of 600 km and can destroy up to 36 of them.