Focus on S-400 missile deal as Vladimir Putin visits India today

Bypassing the US threat of sanctions, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are likely to sign a deal on S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile systems on Thursday. Putin, who is arriving in India tomorrow, will oversee the signing of a $5 billion deal to supply Delhi with the “game changer” S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile systems.

Putin is coming to India on a two-day visit to hold the annual India-Russia Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"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.

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Besides the S-400 deal, boosting bilateral ties and discussion on a range of regional and global issues, including US sanctions on the import of Iranian crude oil, will be on top agenda of the annual summit.

What is S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile systems; five points

1. The S-400 Triumf is a Russian anti-air system which can shoot down ballistic missiles at a range of 60km (37 miles).

2. An S-400 unit is composed of several launchers, command and logistics vehicles.

3. It can track as many as 300 airborne targets at a range of 600 km and can destroy up to 36 of them.

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4. The Indian Air Force (IAF will receive the first S-400 squadron within 24 months of signing the deal. The rest will be delivered within the next 4-5 years.

5. India will have to pay Russia 15 per cent of the total costs on inking the contract. Rest of the amount will be paid depending on the deliveries of the systems.